Jean Ann Edwards, 80

| March 9, 2025 12:00 AM

Jean Ann Edwards, 80, passed away peacefully surrounded by her four daughters on Feb. 23, 2025. She was born Sept. 14, 1944, in Chicago to the late Eugene Carl Smith and Eleanor Margaret (King). Jean was the eldest of seven children.

Jean married Ernest E. Edwards on Nov. 6, 1963, in Anaconda. They had all four of their daughters within the first five years!

Jean enjoyed playing cards, bingo, Yahtzee, going to thrift stores and garage sales. She also liked creating photo albums of her family, especially her grandchildren. Highlights were when she went with her four daughters, "the fun people," on several summer vacation adventures! Professionally Jean worked as a secretary at the elementary school that her daughters attended in Billings. Later she worked as a cashier at Smith's in Columbia Falls. She enjoyed retirement which allowed her more time to spend with family and friends. She was very family-oriented and loved having Sunday family dinners.

She will always be remembered for living a simple life filled with love and generosity.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister, Muriel Winskas (Jim), brother, Wayne Smith, and sister-in-law, Patti Smith.

She is survived by her daughters, Cynthia Bushman (Keith) of Billings, Tammy Martinson (Joe) of Arizona, Deena Miller (Tom) of Washington, and Pamela Morgan (Eric) of Columbia Falls; her 11 grandchildren, Zachary, Kyle, and Alex Bushman, Wayde and Taylor Martinson, Wesley, Samantha, and Cory (brother John Francis) Miller, Ty, Drew, and Cade Morgan; and her 12 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings, Ezra Smith, Ron Smith (Suzanne), Billy Smith (Betty), and E.C. Smith Jr. (Cathy).

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 6, at St. Richard Catholic Church in Columbia Falls, followed by a graveside committal at St. Richard Catholic Cemetery. It will also be streamed live.

To send online condolences please visit www.columbiamortuary.com. Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is caring for the family.