Mert Edwards, age 79, passed away on August 6, 2006 with his loving family at his side after a courageous battle with cancer. Mert was born to Ruth and Raymond Edwards, October 23, 1926, in Kelseyville. He was educated in the Kelseyville grammar and high schools. He served with U.S. Navy, staying stateside during World War II. He was a cook on the troops” train and traveled from the west to east coast. After his military service, he returned to Kelseyville and married Eleanor Jordan. He apprenticed as a meat cutter and worked at several markets in the Lake County area. In 1974, he relocated to Fort Bragg. Mert married Sandra Nobles in 1978. In 1988, at age 62, he retired as a meat cutter. Mert was not one to retire, and he found part-time employment as an assistant manager at a mobile home park in Fort Bragg. This job kept him physically active; maintaining the park and adjacent campgrounds. Mert”s greatest times were outdoors. During his earlier years, he especially enjoyed fishing, hunting and trap shooting. He and his brother Kay perfected their hunting and fishing skills in their youth and together shared their life long love of the outdoors. While living on the coast, his expertise as a fisherman expanded to include deep sea and rock fishing. He also enjoyed hunting for wild mushrooms and berries; which were then sold to local restaurants. Mert and Sandra spent many hours exploring the coast; enjoying their hobby of metal detecting. Mert is survived by his wife, Sandra and his children; Bart Edwards and his wife Audrey of Auburn; Diane Hamby and her husband David of Yuba City and Allen Edwards and his wife Wendy of Loomis. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren. He will be missed by his siblings, Virginia Marr, Nancy Lloyd, Larry and Jerry Edwards and his many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Grochel, and brother Kay Edwards. Donations in Mert”s memory may be made to Mendocino Humane Society or Redwood Coast Senior Center of Fort Bragg. A memorial service will be held at the Kelseyville Cemetery, Saturday, Aug.12 at 1 pm. A celebration of his life will follow at 6390 Plunkett Lane, Kelseyville. Please sign the guestbook at www.record-bee.com, click on obituaries.
(Published in the Lake County Record-Bee on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2006.)
