Brenda Edwards of Marissa

Brenda Edwards (nee Pickering). 75, of Marissa, passed away on Thursday, July 18, 2019 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, surrounded by family, after a battle with leukemia. She was born on Jan. 8, 1944 in Harrisburg.

Mrs. Edwards was an operating room technician at Sparta Community Hospital for 49 years. She was a member of the Eastern Star.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Bessie (nee Hensley) Pickering; her husband, Vernon "Strawberry" Edwards, whom she married on Aug. 15, 1969 in Harrisburg, and who passed away on April 25, 2013; one son, Alan "Frosty" (Belinda) Edwards; two brothers, Billie Pickering and Rondall Pickering; and one brother-in-law, Sherwood Baker.

She is survived by her children, Lonnie Reeves of Carrier Mills, Pamela (Paul) Treat of Carrier Mills, Penny Reeves of Kansas City, Verna Edwards of Marissa and Pamela (Roy) Wiggins of Galatia; her grandchildren, Derrick Scott (Emma) Lewis, Joshua Lee Lewis, Quaide Levi-Dallas Treat, Casey and Nellie of Kansas, Andrea Paige (Brian) Brooks, Christopher (Laurie) Edwards, Brandon (Casey) Edwards and Aaron Eugene Edwards; her great-grandchildren, Erza Skye, Bradlee Alaina, Mason, Landon, Jace, Madi, Isabella Grace, Wyatt Daniel, Allie Lynn, Sebastian Lee, Cayden Lee, Grayson and Alyssia Lynn Knowles; and two sisters, Irma Pickering-Baker of Carrier Mills and Kathy (Judy) Pickering of Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sparta Community Hospital or the American Cancer Society.

Condolences to the family may be expressed online at www.heilschuessler.com.

A joint memorial service for Vernon "Strawberry" and Brenda Edwards will be held at a later date.

Heil-Schuessler Funeral Home in Marissa is in charge of arrangements.