Dwight Lee “Butch” Edwards

Dwight Lee “Butch” Edwards, 66, of Republic passed away Nov. 19, 2020. He was born on Feb. 14, 1954 in Wichita, Kan. to Paul and Nedra (Kirby) Edwards.
Edwards played football in high school and graduated from Lockwood High School in 1972.  He served in the Air Force at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas and Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma for four years. He was an aircraft maintenance specialist/ technician.  He had earned the rank of Sergeant, he retired from the Air Force in August of 1976 and later worked for SRC (Springfield Remanufacturing Company) before retiring.
He was united in marriage to Donna Eileen (Canoles) on Jan. 31, 1976 after they met in Baltimore, Md. when he was there for a friend’s wedding. They were blessed to have spent 44 years of marriage together. To this union two children were born, Deidra Marie and Daniel Lee.
He was a member of Onward Methodist Church in Miller. He served as the Sunday School Superintendent, cooked Easter breakfast, played Santa Claus in the Christmas program, mowed the church yard, and helped with care of the church building.
He is survived by his wife; children, Deidra Edwards and Daniel Edwards; sister, Lola Jean Dyson; half-sister, Darlene Tucker; half-brothers, Maurice Harlow and Brian Edwards; step brothers, Norris Cornell and Mike Cornell; step sisters, Pam Jones, Patti Stanton, Judy Russell; uncle, Arnold Kirby as well as extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepfathers, Orville Harlow and Skinny Cornell, his stepbrother, Wayne Cornell and his uncle, Raymond Kirby.
 A visitation is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 11, 2020 from 5-6:30 pm in Meadors Funeral Home, Republic with a celebration of life to follow at 6:30 p.m. in the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Onward Methodist Church.