Edward Allen Childress

Ed Childress

Edward Allen Childress of Aledo died July 20, 2016. His obituary as provided is below:

“Never had it so good.” - my favorite quote, borrowed from my best friend Mike Harrison.

Were I still alive and kickin,’ I’d introduce myself to you immediately since I never knew a stranger in my life. I’d shake your hand firmly with a welcoming grin on my face, bright blue eyes sparkling against my tan skin. I’d tell you my name was Ed Childress, that I was 59 years young, and when asked how I was doing my immediate response would be, “Never had it so good.” We’d chat for a few minutes, and you’d instantly be drawn to my dry sense of humor, my bark of a laugh that tripped so frequently off my tongue, and the wit that wove itself through every facet of my being. You would then roll your eyes at my constant “dad” jokes, just like my children loved to do.

Because I liked to focus only on the positive, what you would not see was me fighting the most important battle of my life - my battle against prostate cancer. I’d been wrestling with this enemy for almost five years, and that conflict ended with my passing on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 in the beautiful mountains of New Mexico. Let me tell you, though, cancer did not in any way define my life. While my fight was long and hard at times, my overwhelming positive nature and zest for life helped me stay happy and focused and allowed me to see the joy in having fun, even through the difficult days.

I was born Edward Allen Childress on June 10, 1957, to my parents, Robert and Margaret. My life started in Shawnee, Oklahoma, the youngest of four boys, but after my sister was born in 1959, we moved to Iowa, pursuing my father’s engineering career. Following a jaunt to California for several years, my family finally settled down in Fort Worth, Texas when I was 13 years old. I attended Western Hills High School, graduating in May of 1975, and started college at Texas A&M University that fall. While Texas A&M and I would ultimately decide to part ways before my earning a degree, my time in College Station was not a waste - I fell in love with Carol Sue Zuehlke during my stint down south, and we were married on May 26, 1979.

I received my Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas at Arlington in May of 1986 and began work as a civil engineer. Our daughter Lindsey was born in 1981, and our son Bobby was born in 1984. Carol began to teach in Aledo in the fall of 1987, and we fell in love with the community. My family moved from Fort Worth and settled there in the summer of 1993. Throughout my children’s childhoods, I was involved in every aspect of their lives: I enjoyed teaching Sunday School, volunteering in the church youth group, and participating in several mission trips. I coached baseball for several years and volunteered with the middle and high school bands.

I was involved with the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, holding positions of Cubmaster and Scoutmaster throughout the years. I went on innumerable camping and backpacking trips with the Scouts, including one memorable trip to the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico and an infamous canoe trip down the Buffalo River in Arkansas. We also took several family vacations to many different locations, including Disney World, a cruise to Alaska, and a week-long excursion through Nova Scotia, Canada. We were usually running late to those vacations, though, as I always had “just a couple more things to do” before we left.

As the children grew up and moved away, Carol and I began to make our own memories. The motorcycles I collected were such a source of joy to me. I would ride all over the back roads of Texas and through the mountains of Arkansas with Carol, Mike and his wife Linda, my son Bobby, and other friends we made along the way.

Carol and I rode from Texas to California, up to Utah and back during the summer of 2007. We also spent two memorable weeks in Montana in the winter of 2013, though we could not take the motorcycle for that one, dang it. Having loved and appreciated sport and muscle cars my entire life, I finally realized a dream when I scored my beloved yellow Corvette Z06 (427 c.i. V8, baby!) in March of 2015. Man, did I love jammin’ gears down country roads with that finely-tuned machine. Hunting became an enormous pleasure of mine in later years as well. I spent many days enjoying the company of family and friends, hunkered down in duck and deer blinds or walking across golden fields in Kansas looking for the next great covey of quail.

All in all, my life was exceptional in every possible way. I had fun with everything I experienced, and I can rest easy knowing I loved my family and friends and was loved so well in return.

I have joined my parents, Bob and Margaret, as well as many aunts and uncles, dancing in the streets of heaven.

Remembering me now are Carol, my wife of 37 years; my daughter Lindsey and her husband, Dallas; my son Bobby and his wife, Kelsey; my grandchildren - Ava, Eleanor, Jameson, Graham, and Reagan; my brother David and his wife Janis; my brother Don and his wife Denise; my brother John and his wife Sharen; my sister Jean; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and even a few grand nieces and grand nephews.

My family and friends will gather from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 29 at Greenwood Funeral Home. As I always ended conversations with my family, have fun!

The Community News

July 29, 2016