John F. Edwards, Jr.

John F. Edwards Jr., 75, lost his battle with cancer on Wednesday morning, March 7, 2012, at his home in Vinton County. He was born in Wellston, Ohio, on February 14, 1937, son of the late John F. and Mabel Hollingshead Edwards. He was an Army veteran during the Korean War and a retired truck driver for Adelman and Clark Lumber Company. He felt his biggest accomplishment was building and maintaining the Licking County Park for 12 years. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing and hunting for mushrooms and ginseng. He was also a very well-known produce seller in the area. He is survived by his companion of 21 years, Eve Gilliam, of McArthur; three sons, John Edwards of Wellston, Michael Edwards of Nova, Ohio, and Mark Kathy Edwards of Newark, Ohio; six daughters, Tammy Mae Chad Shafer of Hebron, Ohio, Vickie George Mapes of Wellston, Cathy Jo Channell of Wellston, Brenda Mike Ousley of Wellston, Pam Chuck Moore of Dundas, and Barbara Ike Dickerson of Wellston; two brothers, Charles Carman Edwards of Newark, Ohio, and Steve Edwards of Radcliff; and two sisters, Nancy Copley of Texas and Jeannie Jerry Teal of McArthur. Also surviving are grandchildren, Brooke Edwards, Jordyn Edwards, Kylee Shafer, Izzy Shafer, along with many more grandchildren and great-grandchildren.Friends may call at the Jenkins Funeral Chapel in Wellston on Saturday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., at which time a procession will proceed to the Bell Cemetery near Allensville for a graveside service officiated by Pastor Willard McCray. Military services will be by the American Legion Post # 371 of Wellston.