Sarah G. Edenfield

Sarah G. Edenfield, 74, died Nov. 24, 2005, at her home in Wasilla. Visitation took place Thursday at Valley Funeral Home in Wasilla. Funeral services will be today at 11 a.m. at the Glacier View Alliance Church, Palmer-Wasilla Highway. Burial will follow at the Wasilla-Aurora Cemetery in Wasilla.

Mrs. Edenfield was born Nov. 30, 1930, in Zephyrhills, Fla. She grew up in a happy Christian home as an only child. She then raised six children in Orlando, Fla., and moved to Alaska in 1975 to start a new chapter in her life.

She and her husband, Jesse, built a home on Pittman Road near Wasilla, where her family shared many happy times for 28 years.

Mrs. Edenfield was a homemaker, and owned Sara's Oils and Crafts in Wasilla for six years. She taught oil painting to the seniors at the Wasilla Senior Center, and to the kindergartners at Eagle River Elementary School. Her hobbies included sewing, quilting, embroidery and oil painting.

Her family wrote, &#8220Sara was a wonderful, caring, loving person who was loved by all who knew her. She spent her years collecting friends, sharing meals and happy times with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her most devoted role was that of mother.

&#8220The holidays were her favorite time of year, and it is especially appropriate that she died Thanksgiving morning. We will remember happy times spent with Mom cooking, quilting, long phone calls, talking, laughing and the best hugs ever. She enjoyed a good cup of coffee, sleeping late, burning the midnight oil, the love of her children and the devoted friendship of her neighbors in the Valley.

&#8220She cared deeply, loved completely, and gave freely of herself and her time. The people who knew her best will miss her terribly, and always remember her kindness, cheerful attitude and willingness to help others. Mom was the kindest, sweetest person we ever knew. The Lord must have needed her and called her home to be with Him, because we know she would have chosen to stay with us longer.”

Mrs. Edenfield is survived by her husband, Jesse Edenfield, of Wasilla; three sons, Lloyd Edenfield of Wasilla, Jesse Edenfield Jr. of Anchorage and John Whittington of Springfield, Mo.; two daughters, Dawn Cross of Eagle River and Dianne Fillyaw of Panama City, Fla.; nine grandchildren, James O'Neal and Cheryl Coleman of Anchorage, Shannon O'Neal, Josh Cross, Justin Cross and Tyler Cross of Eagle River, Tommy Fillyaw and Debbie Fillyaw of Panama City, Fla., and Joey Edenfield of Orlando, Fla. Also surviving are five great-grandchildren, Skye O'Neal Reitz, Summer O'Neal and Bjorn Hensel of Eagle River and James Carson Coleman III and Cailin Coleman of Anchorage.

Mrs. Edenfield was preceded in death by her parents, John and Ophelia Gunnoe, and by one daughter, Joanne Lawrence.