Our treasured Florence Cardwell Edwards, 91, died peacefully on May 27, 2019, of age-related causes.  She was born November 11, 1927, in Seattle, WA, the third of four daughters to Fred Marshall Cardwell and Etta May Cardwell. Florence graduated from Queen Anne High School in 1944 at the age of 16.  That fall, she enrolled at Linfield College in McMinnville, OR where she joined the Lambda Lambda Sigma sorority.  Florence graduated in 1948 with a BA degree in Home Economics.  She married Jesse Donald Edwards, also a Linfield graduate, in 1947.  They lived in Newport from 1948-1955; Hood River from 1955-1961; and Portland from 1961-2009.  Florence moved to Cottage Grove in 2009. 

In her youth, Florence enjoyed spending weekends and summers at her family’s beach home in Indianola, WA. Favorite activities included singing, playing the clarinet, and performing in talent shows with her sisters and friends.  Florence began her future vocation as a teenager working at the National Bank of Commerce in downtown Seattle.  She continued her banking career while living in Newport and Portland.  She retired as an executive secretary of the Auditing Department for Keybank in 1986.  

Florence was a kind, caring, generous individual, with a great heart and spirit.  She was a gracious hostess, baking cookies, pies, and cakes for family and friends.  She loved sewing, handcrafts, music, singing in the church choir, flower arranging, and was the quintessential mom and Granny JoJo.  Florence was a 66-year member of P.E.O. (Chapters CE, DB, and GI), helping to foster women’s higher education funding.  She served as a dedicated deacon at both Multnomah Presbyterian in Portland and First Presbyterian in Cottage Grove. Florence enjoyed attending Linfield Wildcat football games with her husband and son. Indianola continued to be her favorite home-away-from-home and the center of numerous family gatherings. 

Florence is survived by daughters Cindy Vogel (Bruce), Cottage Grove; Terri Hanshumaker (Bill), Seal Rock; grandchildren Brooke, Vanessa, Catelin, and Marshall; sister Patricia Marrs and brother-in-law Carl Marrs, Redmond, WA.  Florence was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, her son Jeffrey, and her sisters Charlotte May Cardwell and Clara C. Beernink. Florence will be interred at Willamette National Cemetery.  A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, August 10, 2019, at First Presbyterian Church. 

In lieu of flowers, offerings are welcome in Florence’s memory to First Presbyterian Church of Cottage Grove; P.E.O. Chapter GI; or Linfield College.