James Roy Edwards

On Friday July 12, 2013, James Roy “Ed” Edwards age 79 of Lake Jackson, TX went home to be with the Lord. Ed was a simple man who spent a lifetime being dedicated to his family and work. He started working at the age of 17. You could likely count the number of missed work days on one hand. Ed was born on November 19, 1933 in San Antonio, TX. Quickly, the family moved to the east Texas town of Groveton and began farming. During this time, Ed developed his lifelong ideals of hard work and dedication. After spending time in the United States Army Airborne, Ed started his 30 year career with Southwestern Bell as a lineman, switch operator, and supervisor. After retirement from Southwestern Bell, he continued his tradition of hard work by returning to work with Gulf States Construction at Dow Chemical. Ed is survived by his wife Beulah, of 50 yrs. They were married in October of 1962. He is also survived by his three children Barbra Stone (husband Brian) of Tyler, Debbie McCoslin (husband Jimmy) of Brazoria, and Keith Edwards (wife Tina) of Decatur, AR. Ed also enjoyed his seven grandchildren Jackson Stone, Anna Stone, Britton Stone, Linda English, Justin English, Carolyn Valdez, Steve McCoslin, Brandi Rudder, Kevin Edwards and his four great grandchildren. Ed was preceded in death by his parents Roy Carvel Edwards and Eldred Inez Landrum. He is survived by his brother Paul Darwin Edwards of Groveton, and sisters Anice Finley (husband Milton) of West Columbia and Janice Johnston (husband David) of Lake Jackson, along with several nieces and nephews. In his early years, Ed enjoyed fishing with his friends, taking vacations with his family, and working around the house. Later in life his courage and diligence in fighting his illness allowed him to enjoy spending time with immediate and extended family, and reminiscing about the past.

"His account of his first eighteen years...

I am James Roy Edwards. I was born in San Antonio, Texas to Roy Carvel Edwards and Eldred Inez Landrum. After living In San Antonio and Sweetwater areas, we moved to Trinity County; where my Father worked on my Grandfather's farm in Magee Bend. It was there I started to school in Groveton, Texas. After the first grade, we moved back to the South Texas area to work in the oil fields. After a year or so; we moved back to Trinity County; settling in Josserand, Texas. Here I went back to Groveton schools-entering the third grade. At the age of seventeen years and seven months, I graduated from Groveton High School. While living at Josserand, the summers were filled with work. I mean work!!!

At fourteen and fifteen, I helped my Dad and brother cut logs and pulpwood. That was before chain saws. We also picked cotton.., very good experience. I also tried farming and ranching with my uncle and cousins. They were real cowboys. I was not!! Very interesting. We worked hard; but had many good memories. I love them all. After graduation, I went to Lake Jackson, hunting a job. Due to my age, I could not find one. I went back to Houston I and went to work through an employment agency. It was an assembly line job at the corner of Franklin and Hamilton. I started the assembly line. You can imagine the pressure on a seventeen year old, when the rest of the line was hard nose experienced employees. So...after I got my employment fee paid off and I turned eighteen, I left the city and job that I could not stand and headed back to Lake Jackson."

Services for James Roy Edwards will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. Visitation will be Monday, July 15, 2013 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. All services will be held at First Baptist Church of Lake Jackson. Online condolences may be left for the family of James “Ed” Edwards at www.restwoodfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Restwood Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 1038 West Plantation Drive, Clute, Texas 77531, (979) 297-2121.