Carolyn Kay Edwards
Carolyn Kay Edwards, 77 of Sandpoint, Idaho, passed away Nov. 26, 2017, at Kootenai Medical Health Center in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
She was born March 19, 1940, in Dodge City, Kansas, to William and Frances Corley. In her early childhood, the family moved to Sandpoint; and in some of her teen years, she lived in Modesto, California, and Sandpoint. It was in Modesto that she married Dean Simmons. While there she worked in the food canneries and then moved to Ohio for a short time for his mtilitary service. They had three children, Debbie, Brian and Ryan. They later divorced.
It was in the early 1970s, that she met in Sandpoint and then married James D. Edwards on December 5, 1974, in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. They had one son Jaime in 1977.
Carolyn spent the kids’ early years being a stay-at-home mom raising them on Colburn Culver Road, 10 miles from town. She did not drive a car, so she got to know the neighbors Deanna Short and Joyce Seppala well over those years over many cups of coffee.
During these years James and Carolyn also lived in Valdez, Alaska, as James worked on the Alaska Pipeline, returning to the family home on Colburn Culver Road in Sandpoint.
It was in the early 1990s that she moved to town and started working in the Dietary Department at Bonner General Hospital. Most days she would be seen walking the half mile to work rain or shine. It is there that she found another purpose in life! She loved her work people like family. She retired from Bonner General Health on Oct. 1, 2017, after 27 years of employment.
In the past number of years she has spent her vacation time at their winter home in Yuma, Arizona. She enjoyed visiting with other Sandpoint friends there.
Carolyn loved country music, one of the highlights was getting to travel to Nashville, Tennessee, with her daughter Debbie and going to The Grand Ole Opry to see one of her all-time favorites, George Jones, sing “He Stopped Loving Her Today” in person. She always said that was a trip of a lifetime!
Carolyn was known to worry about her kids and others at work. She would often say things that would make you laugh and was always up to be teased just a little!
Carolyn is survived by her husband, James D Edwards; her children, Debbie Rogers, Brian Simmons, Ryan (Kendra) Simmons, and Jaime Edwards; her grandchildren, Jayme Rogers, Devin Rogers, Hillary Simmons McElhaney, Patrick Simmons, Josiah, Jeremiah, Jordan, Jaydon, Japheth and Justus Simmons. She als ois survived by sisters and brothers, Ron Corley, Becky Robinson, Bob Corley and Jill Reagan; and by a sister in heart, Judy Simmons Wedge as well as several nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her best friend, Betty Eberley; and a large extended chosen family of co-workers and friends at Bonner General Health.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and his wife Lavita Corley, and Frances and her husband Lennie Wyckoff; her bothers, Gary Corley and his wife Gerry Corley, Jim Corley, Steven Wyckoff and Richard Wyckoff.
A memorial will be held Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, at 11 a.m. at the VFW Hall, 1325 Pine St, Sandpoint.
Please sign Carolyn’s guestbook at belltowerfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Bonner General Health Auxiliary.