Vernon L. Edwards, 58

Vernon L. Edwards, 58, of Eureka, died Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006, in Iowa from natural causes.

He was born Jan. 6, 1948, in Kalispell, to James and Muriel Stahlberg Edwards. He grew up in Kalispell and graduated from Flathead High School in 1967.

He married Dianne Hanson in 1967. They made their home in Columbia Falls. Several years later they moved to Oregon where he worked for the Oregon State Highway Department as a heavy equipment mechanic for 16 years. They then returned to Kalispell where he had worked for Evergreen Disposal and NUPAC. Since that time he has been employed as a long haul trucker. The family moved to Eureka in 2002.

He was a devoted family man. He was a people person who was always willing to help others.

He was preceded in death by his father, James Edwards of Columbia Falls, and father and mother-in-law, David Hansen and Cora Ann Hansen.

Survivors include his wife, Dianne Edwards, of Eureka; children, David Edwards of Weed, Calif., Linda Simoni and husband, Scott, of Tampa, Fla., Kevin Edwards of Delaware, Michael Edwards and wife, Tammy, and Patrick Edwards, all of Eureka, Corine Balders and husband, David, of Walla Walla, Wash.; mother, Muriel Edwards of Kalispell; two sisters, Patricia Holmquist of Washington, Pam Mallery and husband, Bob, of Las Vegas; three brothers, Mark Edwards and wife, Gloria, of Vancouver, Wash., Jim Edwards and wife, Donna, of California, Tom Edwards and wife, Donna, of Washington; nine grandchildren and one great-grandson.