Obituaries

Jean Edgar

Jean Hansen Edgar, 99, a longtime East Tennessee resident, died May 18, 2016. Jean was born in Marquette, Mich., and grew up in the lumbering community of Big Bay, Mich. She graduated from Northern Michigan University in 1938, and taught school in Owosso, Mich. She subsequently married Robert R. "Bob" Edgar, a forester, and lived in Marquette, Mich., for 13 years. In 1953, Jean and Bob moved to Athens, Tenn., where they resided for 47 years. Jean moved to Grand Rapids, Mich., in 2000. Jean and Bob raised three sons and, in 1965, Jean was named Mother of the Year for the State of Tennessee. She was active in many volunteer organizations, including the Board of Directors for the Athens library, Board of Directors for the Athens YMCA, the Parent Teachers Association for the schools in which her children attended, church and Republican politics. Jean was a fine golfer and played golf well into her eighties. She was an avid and knowledgeable bird watcher and taught Bird Watching at various school camps at the invitation of Harold "Prof" Powers. Jean and Bob loved the outdoors and had a cottage in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where they spent their summers after Bobs retirement. Jean had a marvelous capacity to memorize poetry. She was a prolific reader and was always prepared to engage in conversation about a book that she had read. Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her sister, Shirley McQuade; and her brother, Harry Hansen Jr. She is survived by her sons, U.S. District Judge R. Allan Edgar (Gail) of Big Bay, Mich., Thomas R. Edgar (Ling Yu) of Wolf Creek, W.Va., and Christopher L. Edgar (Linda) of East Grand Rapids, Mich. She is survived by six grandchildren, Amy Sklansky of University City, Mo., Laura Haun of Fuquay-Varina, N.C., John Edgar of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Sarah Brule of Sacramento, Calif., Andrew Edgar-Beltran of Ventura, Calif. and Robert Edgar of Ann Arbor, Mich. She has seven great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service celebrating Jeans life will be held in Grand Rapids, at Mayflower Congregational Church, at 11 a.m. on June 17, 2016. Memorial gifts may be directed to: Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 E. College Street, Athens, TN 37303; Bay Cliff Health Camp, P.O. Box 310, Big Bay, MI 49808, or a charity of your choice.

Published May 24, 2016

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