Catherine Sanders Edwards

by Lynn McMillen
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Catherine Sanders Edwards, age 88, of Kelso, TN was born August 7, 1934, to the late Doc Emmett and Ruby Mae Jones Sanders in Salty Bottom, AL. Mrs. Edwards passed away November 4, 2022, at her home.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Edwards was preceded in death by her brothers, Emmett (Dot) Sanders, Edward (Betty) Sanders of Huntsville, AL; and sister, Marge (Kenneth) DeArmond of Arab, AL.

Survivors include her husband of 69 years, Willard (Ed) Edwards of Kelso; daughter, Terri (Don) Bukar and son, Mark (Lisa) Edwards of Kelso; sister, Patricia (Fred) Wyatt of Huntsville; grandchildren, Will (Brittany) Elrod of Huntsville; Jess Elrod of Washington D.C., Lucas (Erica), Hannah and Spencer Edwards all of Kelso; Amanda (Nick) Plitz of Kit Carson, CO, and Billy (Sirena) Bukar of Tullahoma; and last but not least, six great-granddaughters whom she adored; Macie, Shelby, Isabelle, Chloe, Laney, and Ruby.

Catherine met the love of her life, Ed, while living at the Church of Christ Girls Home which at the time was across the street from the old Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. On Saturday evenings the girls would sit on the porch at the Home and listen to the music from The Opry. It was the blind date of all dates that would set their lives in motion and connect Catherine and Ed. He was charming, good looking, and a Korean War Vet, and after a long courtship of three months, they married. Not long after, they left Nashville in 1954 and made their way to Huntsville, AL where they both would pursue careers at the new Redstone Arsenal which later became Marshall Space Flight Center.

They soon after bought farms in Lincoln County, TN which would be their home for the next 63 years. They were blessed to be able to commute together every day for their entire working time at NASA, and many problems were solved during those daily trips hence the secret of being married for 69 years. Catherine was most proud of receiving the Snoopy Award while working for NASA. They both continued to work for NASA until the 1980’s when they retired to their farm in the Kelso area. Catherine was a Christian and attended the Church of Christ at Park City for 32 years.

Graveside service will be held at 1 pm on Sunday, November 6, 2022, at Campbell Cemetery with Bro. Paul Clayton officiating. There will be no visitation with the family prior to the service. Memorial donations may be made to the Benevolence Fund at the Church of Christ at Park City, 42 McDougal Road, Fayetteville, TN 37334, or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.

Higgins Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Catherine Sanders Edwards.

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