Raymond Chesley Edwards slipped peacefully into the presence of his Lord on March 10, 2017. He was surrounded by his family and looking forward to meeting his Saviour face to face. In the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, no... in a place called Eden, Idaho, a baby boy was born on May 29, 1923, in the humble home of a couple of poor farmers, Oscar and Blanche Edwards. Little Raymond (aka Ray) had two older sisters and a brother, and a little brother came later. When he was 14, Ray's family moved to a farm south of Twin Falls, where they continued to work the land with a team of horses. He graduated from Hollister High in 1941, and attended NNC for two years. In 1943, he met Glorianna Damon at a church function, they fell in love and were married a few months later on November 14, 1943. A week after they were married, he entered the Coast Guard, and was stationed in San Diego, then San Francisco, California. His young wife followed him from port to port, and they treasured the short hours he was on leave. At the end of World War II, on February 2, 1946, Raymond was discharged, and the young couple and their baby daughter, Judy, moved back to, Idaho, where they lived for a time in a tiny house on his father's farm. A year and a half later, Ron was born, and when Ron was 2, the young family moved to Nyssa, Oregon, where Ray worked at a co-op. Back to farming, the young family moved to Parma, where Doug was born, then to Notus, and finally to Nampa. In 1956, Raymond began to suffer with severe heart pain, and his doctor warned him that he was about to die, that he must get off the farm. He finished the harvest that year, wondering how God would provide for him and his family. Then, with the help of a friend, he took over a commercial laundry service route, where he was lovingly referred to as the "Ragman". He continued serving the shops with clean rags and overalls, along with laughs and friendship, for 34 years until he retired, witnessing to God's grace and healing. Always the Christian gentleman, Ray was comfortable with people of every station, bringing his contagious sense of clean humor into every conversation. He was loved as a Sunday School teacher, song leader and church board member throughout his life. After retirement Raymond and Glorianna moved to Emmett, where they were a blessing to family and friends. They were members of Community Bible Church in Emmett. After Glorianna's death in 2013, Raymond resided with their daughter, Judy Gibson. He will be missed by all who knew him. He was preceded in death by his wife, Glorianna Damon Edwards; his parents; siblings: Edna Handy, Mable Hills, and Allen Edwards; and his son-in-law, Jerry Gibson. He is survived by his brother Don Edwards of Twin Falls, Idaho; children: daughter Judy Gibson of Emmett, sons Ron (Helen) Edwards of Lakeland, Florida, and Doug (Connie) Edwards of Emmett; nine grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandson. A memorial service celebrating Raymond's life will be held at the Emmett Nazarene Church, 1144 N. Washington Ave., Emmett, on Thursday, March 23, at 2:00 pm., with pastor Jonathon Phillips of the Community Bible Church and Pastor Sam Garris of Heart 'n Home Hospice officiating. A viewing will be held from 7 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Mar. 22 at the Emmett Nazarene Church. Interment will be at the Veterans' Cemetery in Boise. Arrangements are under the direction of Zeyer Funeral Chapel, Nampa. (208-467-7300)
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