Jack O. Edwards

Jack was born December 22, 1931 in Sikeston, MO to the late Ida Lea Edwards and John Owen Edwards. He went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, October 18,2015.

He attended public schools in Sikeston from grades one through twelve, graduating from Sikeston High School in 1949.

After graduation from high school Jack went to California and was employed at a factory in San Leandro, California when the Korean War broke out in the summer of 1950. Jack returned to Sikeston later that year and joined the U.S. Air Force in February of 1951. After basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas he went to Technical School in Wahpeton, North Dakota.

Edwards was stationed at Burtonwood RAF Base near Liverpool England for three years, after a short time in Germany with the 1600 Military Air Transportation Wing.

In 1954 Edwards returned to the United States and was discharged from the Airforce in 1955 attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant, after serving his last 6 months of service at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma.

After his discharge Jack returned to Sikeston where he worked in the family store, Edwards IGA, and attended SEMO University.

After graduation from SEMO University, Edwards attended the University Of Missouri School Of Law in Columbia, MO. While in Law School he served as Revising Editor of the Missouri Law Review for 2 Years and was initiated into the Order of the Coif in recognition of his high scholastic achievement at the school which he later graduated from in 1961.

Upon graduation, Edwards returned to Sikeston to practice law where he became a member of the Dempster, Edwards, & Robison Law firm and later the Edwards and Robison Law Firm.

After seven years of practice at Sikeston, Edwards returned to the School of Law UMC as Assistant Dean and Assistant Professor of Law where he later became Associate Dean and Associate Professor of law. After 12 years with the School of Law, where he saw approximately 1600 young lawyers graduate, he left the School of Law to become an Associate Circuit Judge in the 25th Judicial Circuit, Maries County Missouri.

Edwards served as a Judge for over 14 years and he retired as Judge, January 1st, 1995, later serving as a senior Judge on special assignments from the Missouri Supreme Court for another 14 years.

Over the years Edwards has served as a member of Several Civic and Fraternal organizations including Sikeston Jaycees, Belle Lions Club, and President of the Rotary Club in Campbell, MO.

Jack is survived by wife, Ruth Ann Edwards of the home. His daughter Sally Edwards Godwin of Charlotte, N.C. His son Joseph O. Edwards of Columbia, MO. His step-children, Karl Stout of Columbia, MO, Dan Stout of Jeff, MO, and Christine Ewing of Akron, OH. One grandson, Miles Patrick Godwin of Charlotte, N.C. Six step-grandchildren Jade, Cody, Sydney, Scarlet, Gabriella, and Grayson. Nephews John Edwards Pasaka and his wife Lori of Strongsville, OH, and Steve Howell of Millstadt, IL. Great-nephews Tim Howell and his wife Jenni of L.A.,CA, and Jason Howell and his wife Renee of K.C.,MO. His great niece Rebecca Howell of Hannibal, MO. His great-great niece Avery Lea Howell of L.A., CA., and his cousins, Darlene Edwards of Big Springs, TX, Jim Leamy and wife Madeline of The Villages, FL, George Davis and wife Betty of Beaufort, SC, Rochelle Vega and husband George of Laveen, AZ, Sharon Duncan of Sikeston, MO, Susie Lawrence and Husband Frank of Bridgeview, IL, as well as many other friends and relatives.

Jack was a member of the 1st Methodist Church in Sikeston, MO, but was active in the Koenig Methodist Church in Belle.

A visitation for Jack will be held on Thursday, October 22, 2015 at Sassmann's Chapel in Belle from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Funeral Services will at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 23, 2015 at the Koenig Methodist Church near Belle with Pastor Sandra Dixon officiating. Interment will follow in the Koenig Methodist Church Cemetery with full Military Honors.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the Koenig Methodist Church or to the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030