A service celebrating the life of Edamae Adamson will be held Saturday June 14, 2003 at 10:00am at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland Washington. Grandma Edie’s loving family gathered to say goodbye to a wonderful Mother, adored Grandmother, Great Grandmother, and a great Lady.

Edie, as she liked to be called, was born in Napa California to Herschel Edwin Jones Ed and Viola May Long Jones. Her birth certificate lists her as Eda May Jones, however she has preferred Edamae since childhood. She had one brother, Ralph, D Jones

The family moved to Southern Oregon about 1917 and settled in Klamath Falls where her father established a very successful lathe machine shop to serve the area sawmills and farmers. The shop remained in business as H.E. Jones and Son until their retirement in 1960.

Edamae attended Riverside Grade School and graduated from the old Klamath Falls High School about 1924. She immediately began studies in elementary education at the Teachers College in Ashland called Normal College and later graduated from there with her certificate to teach or be a principal.

Her first school was a little two-room school near Henley called Mt. Laki. She taught grades one, two, and three. There was a teacher cottage by the school she shared with the lady who taught grades four through six.

One year there was enough. Edamae wanted a city school; so back to college at Oregon she went and received her full certificate and then some. She could have been a superintendent. Edamae accepted a first grade teaching position in Klamath Falls and continued there until her marriage to Ralph Lawton Adamson June 3 1928.

Ralph worked for the construction company McNutt, Pyle, and McNutt building roads on the Oregon Coast near Florence. The job later moved to the Yellowstone Park area of Montana where Ralph coordinated the movement of equipment and supplies to construct the high mountain portion of the Highway between Cooke City and Redlodge Montana. Many tales have been told of this adventure. The Adamsons experienced living in grand homes near the railheads to transportable one-room cabins when they were working in the high country.

Their son Gerald Edwin was born late in 1934, and Ralph had said “we would not stay on the road after he was born, it was no way for a child to grow up”. In August 1935 the family returned to Southern Oregon where Ralph accepted a job with Weyerhauser Timber Company repairing machinery. He was soon promoted to foreman. The family moved to a cabin at King Cole, a small settlement on the Greenspring Mountain Highway west of Klamath Falls to be close to the job. Ralph soon Built a small house for the family near the King Cole store/post office. The family was living there when Ralph died of pneumonia in February 1937.

After Ralphs death Edamae returned to Klamath Falls, arranged for a teaching job the next fall, then went back to summer school at Fresno State College in California. She returned to Klamath Falls in August 1938 ready to resume her teaching career. She always taught first grade. Past students at Fremont, Pelican, Mills Addition, and Riverside grade schools may remember her love for her students and her unique teaching style. She taught at Riverside School in the same room she had once been a student. Edamae also spent many hours helping with the large primary Sunday school program at her church.

Summer of 1946 found Edamae and son Jerry moving to Medford after the church they attended in Klamath Falls was closed.

Edie continued teaching first grade students for fourteen years at Roosevelt Grade School in Medford . She also continued with many hours spent administering and teaching in her churches very large primary Sunday school program. In 1960 Edamae decided it was time to explore new territory and accepted a first grade teaching position at Slyvan school in west Portland.

Edies’ great love for her first graders and her unique teaching methods endeared her in the hearts of many students and parents over the years. This love was shown when a surprise retirement party at Sylvan school was attended by many past and present students and their parents who poured out their gratitude and respect for Edamae. Her most prized possession was the scrapbook prepared by these students, parents and fellow teachers that was given her on the eve of her retirement in 1972.

Retirement found Edie more able to travel. She and long time friend Louise Hull continued to take cruises, train, bus, and car trips around the United States and Canada for many years. Edie say’s “ I got around a little.” Edie and Louise took their last trip into Canada in 2001.

Edie had a stroke the day before her 95th Birthday that left her unable to voice her many thoughts within. She never lost the ability to effectively communicate with a quick smile, a pointing school teachers finger, a worried look, a frown, all with her expressive “I go home”, the words she taught herself to say while recovering from her stroke in the Skilled Care Facility.

Edie was able to return home to her beloved apartment. Only when Louise Hull vowed “I will take care of her”. Louise stayed with Edie 24 hours a day for a year and a half, preparing meals, managing medications, sharing the joys of accomplishment and the sorrows of frustration.

Edie worked extremely hard at recovering her mobility and other stroke related effects. After many hours of practice, she was able to print her name, and her family members names. This was no small accomplishment and it pleased her greatly. Speech was a much more difficult challenge. Edie had many hours of professional speech therapy and lots of encouragement from Shirley.

Grandma Edie’s greatest joy was her family. She dearly loved each and every family member.

Son Gerald and wife Shirley, Grandsons: Ralph and wife Judy, Jeffrey and Wife Cheryl,   Granddaughter: Tamera, Grandson Todd deceased   
Great Granddaughters:  Regina, Rebekah, Bonita, Miriam 
Great Grandsons: Jeremy, David, Clifton, Frank, Robert, James, John, Gabriel,   Marcusdeceased,

While penning the last page of her life story which her son had asked her to write, she says the following:

I sit here late tonight thinking about my entire family.  Not very many people have as wonderful a big family as mine.

They are all very close to each other.  18 individuals who enjoy each other’s company, 
no jealousy, no bickering.  The cousins want to be together, and get along amazingly.

Jerry and Shirleys children, very close to them, more than most grown children.  Says a lot for the way they were brought up.  The parents know their joys, sorrows, troubles, and what is going on exciting in each family.  They are that close.

The grandchildren love to meet in their home.  No one is left out.  All are treated exactly the same, and they know it.

I think I have a great family, and I am so thankful for it.