Nona Patricia Edwards

Eagle River resident Nona Patricia Edwards, 62, died at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage on May 25 from respiratory failure.

A service will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday at the Eagle River Community Covenant Church, 16123 Artillery Road.

Nona was born on Oct. 31, 1946 in Paragould, Ark. She became a resident in Alaska on Aug. 26, 1983. She was employed with the Iditarod School District, Anchorage School District (secretary at Chugiak) and North Slope Borough School District (secretary at Point Lay) and she worked at Sears. She was affiliated with the Eagle River Community Covenant Church. She traveled to Alaska villages working in schools with children to help with their education and crafts; she also worked with elders. She loved scrapbooking, family outings, camping at RV parks, socializing, taking cruises and trips to Las Vegas. Hawaii was her favorite vacation spot and her dream was to live on a coast.

Her family wrote, “Nona, was our morning glory, a beautiful loving wife (Angel), mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She truly inspired and touched everyone around her with love and always seemed to have a glow of sunshine about her. She was our rock and strength to keep our family close. She did have a spitfire personality. For instance, if anyone was not on time it would not settle well. If someone gives a time to be somewhere that is the way it should be.

“She enjoyed helping others by being there during hard and good times. As kids, we always knew when that line was crossed; mom would give you that special look she had without saying a word. Mom was a special lady, she was born on a holiday and left us on a holiday. We know deep in our hearts she’s in a better place, no longer going through the pains in her body. We know deep in our hearts she will always be there to guide us and give the strength to carry on. She will be missed deeply by all she has touched and inspired.”

She was survived by her husband of 45 years, Jerry P. Edwards; daughter Tammy D. Crabtree and her husband Chris Crabtree of Wasilla; sons Jerry M. Edwards and his wife Susan Edwards and Robert D. Edwards; grandchildren Christopher, Angela, Jolleen, Mikey, Richard, Brianna and Dylan; great-grandchildren Makayla, Alyssa, Emily, Serena, Jared and Mykia; brothers Bob Sietz and Paul and Keith Hunt of Michigan; sister Joy Lynn Sietz; aunts Betty Holden, Rheaba Hunt, and Dell Hunt; uncle Ted Hunt of Florida; several cousins who loved her, and caring friend Lacey.

She was preceded in death by her parents Paul Hunt and Etta Bell Coffman.

Arrangements are with Janssen’s Evergreen Memorial Chapel.