Grace Janell Edwards

1. Grace Janell Edwards was born on August 10, 1938, in her family home in Beaver,
   Oklahoma, to Leonard and Velma Goetzinger. She was welcomed by her older
   sister Karen and, just 15 months later, by her younger sister Lynn. Growing up,
   Janell was surrounded by a large, close-knit extended family of aunts, uncles, and
   cousins, who all lived nearby and worked together in the family grocery store.
   Janell attended Beaver schools and graduated high school with the Class of 1956.
   During high school, she met the love of her life, Dean Edwards, thanks to her best
   friend Roberta Shockley. As Roberta liked to tell it, she had met “the cutest guy,”
   and the best part was that he had a twin she could set Janell up with. Dean often
   joked that he was six feet tall when they met, but Janell “chased him so hard he ran
   his legs off.”
   After high school, Janell completed her first year of college at Panhandle State
   University in Goodwell, Oklahoma, before transferring to Oklahoma State
   University in Stillwater, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in education.
   Janell and Dean were married in August 1958 in her family home. They began
   their life together in Liberal, Kansas, where Janell taught school. When Dean was
   drafted into the military, Janell remained in Liberal teaching while he was stationed
   in California, Texas, and Alaska. She later joined him in Alaska, where she
   continued teaching. After his discharge, they along with Dee and Roberta returned
   to Beaver, Oklahoma, to establish their home and raise a family.
   Dean and Janell were blessed with two children, Klayne Lanese and Harlen Dee,
   who were the center of her life. Janell adored her grandchildren: Klayne and her
   husband Devin gave her two granddaughters, Kiley Jo and Kelsea Lynn, while
   Harlen and his wife Dezra gave her a grandson, Naton Dean. She was also proud to
   be a great-grandmother to six: Waylon, Liam, Hayden, Sutton, Tate, and Kash.
   While staying home with her children during their younger years, Janell co-
   founded a preschool in Beaver with her friend Nancy Calhoon. Later, she returned
   to full-time teaching, starting in 3rd grade and eventually specializing in 5th and
   6th grade reading. Janell retired from teaching in the spring of 1996 after a
   fulfilling career.
   In retirement, she enjoyed coffee afternoons with her friends, playing bridge every
   Tuesday (and any other chance she got), and attending her grandchildren’s
   activities.
   
   After Dean’s passing in July 2007, Janell found companionship and joy again with
   her dear friend Dr. Ralph Cramer. Together, they shared many happy years,
   supporting each other through life’s joys and challenges, until Ralph’s passing in
   July 2024.
   Janell passed from this life on May 18, 2025, at the Beaver County Nursing Home,
   with her daughter Klayne by her side. She was preceded in death by her husband
   Dean; her parents Leonard and Velma Goetzinger; her sister Lynn Reynolds; her
   in-laws Harvey and Gracie Edwards; brother-in-laws Marvin Heilman and Wayne
   Hauth; sister-in-law Elaine Edwards; and close friends and family Dee and Roberta
   Edwards and Dr. Ralph Cramer.
   She leaves to celebrate her life: her daughter Klayne and husband Devin Brown of
   Mooreland, Oklahoma; her son Harlen and wife Dezra Edwards of Argyle, Texas;
   her beloved grandchildren Kiley McClain and Brent Jorden of Mooreland, Kelsea
   and husband Slade Gum of Waynoka, and Naton and wife Sara Edwards of Argyle; 

and her six precious great-grandchildren, Waylon, Liam, Hayden, Sutton, Tate, and Kash.
She is also survived by her sister Karen Heilman; sister-in-law Shirley Hauth;
brother-in-law Lynn Edwards; cousin and caregiver Peggy Morrison; as well as
numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends who will miss her greatly.