Chester Edwards

Obituary

Chester Edwards was born March 18th, 1924, in Meridian, Oklahoma, to Tossie Flowers and Stella Ruby Brooks, the fifth of six children.  He departed this life March 14 ^th , 2015, in Clackamas, Oregon.

Chester attended public schools in Meridian.   He was baptized at an early age.

He met and married Ruth Lyons in 1943 in King Fisher, Oklahoma   To this union two children were born, Chester Jr. and Ruth Ann.

Chester moved to Portland, Oregon in 1948 where he was employed by the City of Portland.   Later he worked for TriMet as a driver for many years.

When Chester retired from Tri-met, he bought a motor home and traveled around the United States.   He loved baseball – he was an avid baseball fan, and would travel to watch the world series games.

Chester was a “jack of all trades”, who was self taught in a vast variety of things.  Electrician, mechanic, carpet layer, builder, you name it, Chester could fix anything!  If he couldn’t fix it, it couldn’t be fixed.

He recommitted his relationship to the Lord when he joined the New Hope Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. Johnny Pack IV in 1985, where he installed railings in the choir stand, purchased the US flags and put them in where they still hang today, did wiring for the sound system, among many other things.  He spent countless hours working for the church.  He later joined the Fellowship Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. Pack, where he continued to assist the church in performing numerous tasks. Painting, carpentry, electrical work and so much more.  Chester volunteered his time and never asked for anything in return. Chester was good at what he did, he was gifted and enjoyed working with his hands. At both New Hope and Fellowship today, the membership is still enjoying the fruits of Chester’s labor.

Chester was a simple man who readily shared his wisdom about life and life’s challenges.  He believed in doing the right thing and could talk for hours sharing his words of wisdom.  He had a unique way of saying funny things with a straight face, that would have the listener doubling over in laughter.  He really enjoyed making people laugh.  Chester was a good man, a hard working family man, with a giving heart, who lived his life always ready and willing to help others.

Chester was preceded in death by his parents,  and three brothers, Melvin, Frenchie and Isaiah; two sisters,  Dorothy Allen and Doreatha Gaffney.

Chester leaves to mourn his passing his daughters, Felicia Buchanan, Portland, Oregon, and Ruth Ann Sheets of Oklahoma City, OK, son, Chester Edwards Jr., Oklahoma City, OK , step daughters, Darlene Warren, Clackamas, OR (Lenzie) and Wanda Devers, Antonio, TX  , step sons Carl Buchanan (Norma), Gresham, OR,  and Cedric Buchanan  (Carla),  Bothell, WA, grandchildren Chris Carter (Eldonda), Antonio Carter (Ramona), Leonard Carter (Jacquella), Patrice Collins, Carlos Collins , 18 great grandchildren, 5 great great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.