Edna Muriel Truitt

Edna Muriel Truitt, 97, was born May 30, 1917 at Bingen, Hemstead County, Arkansas to John Walter and Dona (Power) Owens. She passed away in Irving, Texas on Sunday, December 28, 2014. Edna lived in Hempstead County until the 8th grade. She moved with her family to Caddo, OK where she graduated from Caddo High School in 1935. She then attended Southeastern State University in Durant, OK where she received her Bachelor Degree in 1940. Edna taught school at Tishomingo, Eagletown, and Caddo, Oklahoma. She also taught in Eldorado, Kansas before moving to Fort Sumner, NM where she taught in the Elementary School until her retirement in 1977. She was voted teacher of the year in 1977. While teaching at Fort Sumner she also attended Eastern New Mexico University and the University of New Mexico. Edna was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner, where she served as secretary of the church board, and the Order of Eastern Star, Melrose/Fort Sumner Chapter #30 where she held an office every year she was a member including three terms as Past Matron, District Instructor and one year as Grand Chaplain of O.E.S. in New Mexico. Edna married Howard Truitt on May 24, 1958. Following their retirement they both traveled throughout the United States and Canada. Edna is preceded in death by her husband Howard Truitt on October 21, 1994, her parents, a step-daughter Helen Cuthbertson, all her siblings, five sisters Lillian Withers, Bernice Owens, Inez Graves, Lucy Cochneuer, Ruby Owens, four brothers Dr. John Owens, Clinton Owens, Van Owens, and Harry Owens, and a nephew Nickolas Owens who died in 2013. Edna is survived by 9 nieces and nephews, Kathy Ernest and husband Ed of Katy, TX, Margaret Semons of Irving, TX, Donna Higginson of Grove, OK, Thomas Owens and wife Viki of Collinsville, OK, Sarah Davison and husband Steve of Broken Arrow, OK, Raymond Owens of Durant, OK, Nancy Rutledge and husband Steve of Jacksonville, FL, Rebecca Felt of Denison, TX, along with numerous great nieces and nephews, other relatives and many dear friends and former students. Visitation hours will be Friday, January 2, 2015 from 1pm to 6pm at the funeral home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, January 3, 2015 from First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner with Rev. Mike Stahl officiating; burial will follow at Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will include Charlie West, Rodney McClain, Edward Sena, Mike West, Larry Reagan, Paul Ed Horney, and Randel Mansell. Honorary bearers will be a all her former students, and Fort Sumner School staff. Contributions in Edna’s memory may be made to Fort Sumner Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 180, Fort Sumner, NM 88119, First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 410, Fort Sumner, NM 88119 or to the charity of one’s choice. All arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, NM (575) 355-2311. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book go to www.chavezfuneralhome.com