Obituary of Carolyn Kay Edwards

Carolyn Kay Edwards, 77 of Sandpoint, Idaho passed away November 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, Early childhood they moved to Sandpoint, Idaho and in some of her teen years lived in Modesto, California and Sandpoint, Idaho.  It was in Modesto that she married Dean Simmons.  While there she worked in the food Cannery’s and then moved to Ohio for a short time for his Military service.  They had three children Debbie, Brian and Ryan. They later divorced.

It was in the early 1970’s that she met in Sandpoint, Idaho and then married James D Edwards on December 5, 1974 in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. It was just 9 days short of celebrating 43 years of marriage.  They had one son Jaime in 1977.

Carolyn spent the kids early years being a stay at home mom raising the kids on Colburn Culver Rd, 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, Idaho.

It was in the early 1990’s that she moved to town and started working part time in the Dietary Department at Bonner General Hospital, It soon lead to full time job that 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. It would not be unusual for her to get home from work and then call a co-worker that had become best friends and visit for some time on the phone. She had just retired from Bonner General Hospital October 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!  Second trip to a concert to see Vince Gill and Patty Loveless was also high on the list of great music memories.

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 of Sandpoint, Idaho, Brian Simmons of Coeur d Alene, Idaho, Ryan (Kendra) Simmons of Mesa, Arizona, and Jaime Edwards of Chicago, Illinois .  Her grandchildren Jayme Rogers and Devin Rogers of Sandpoint, Idaho, Hillary Simmons McElhaney of California, Patrick Simmons of Spokane, Washington, Josiah, Jeremiah, Jordan, Jaydon, Japheth and Justus Simmons of Mesa, Arizona. Also survived by sisters and brothers Ron Corley, Becky Robinson, Bob Corley and Jill Reagan.  And a sister in heart Judy Simmons Wedge of Modesto, California. And 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 Hospital.

Preceded in death by her parents William and his wife Lavita Corley and Frances and her husband Lennie Wyckoff, Brothers Gary Corley and his wife Gerry Corley, Jim Corley, Steven Wyckoff and Richard Wyckoff.

A Memorial will be held December 16, 2017 11:00 am at The VFW Hall, 1325 Pine St, Sandpoint, Idaho.