Shirley Ann Edelman

Shirley Ann (Godfrey) Edelman was born January 6th, 1950. She peacefully fell asleep in death at home on September 8, 2020, at the age of 70. Shirley was born in Vancouver, Washington, one of 5 children to Lyle and Evelyn Godfrey.

Shirley grew up in the North Bonneville area in the Columbia River Gorge, graduating from Stevenson High School in 1968. She frequently reminisced of her enjoyment of spending time outside in the beautiful forests and streams, playing and climbing trees with her siblings, and helping her dad in the lumber industry.

Shirley's parents shared their love of the Bible with their children. When she was 14 years old, Shirley made the decision she wanted to dedicate her life to serving our creator, Jehovah God. She was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Shirley had a strong desire to share with others the comfort and hope for the future she found in her study of the Bible. After graduating high school, she began the full time ministry work. Her sense of adventure led her to move to Falls City, Nebraska to share in the ministry there. Her free-spirited and playful disposition caught the eye of a Kansas farmer, and in 1970 she married Richard Edelman. They spent 47 years together until Richard's passing in 2017.

Her family and her faith were the center of her life, and she always welcomed anyone into her home with hospitality. If you stopped by, you would be offered a meal, maybe two if you stayed long enough! She was known for her tasty home cooking and baked goods, and her love of music and singing. From an early age she learned to play the piano and accordion. She used her natural musical talents not only to entertain guests and to wake up her kids in the morning, but she also could be heard over the years playing the piano at the Kingdom Hall in Beloit, and also at Jehovah's Witness assemblies all over Kansas. She also had a competitive streak and was always up for a "friendly" game of Monopoly, Scrabble, Pinochle, Sheep's Head, and too many more to count. Her failing health in her later years didn't dim the mischievous twinkle in her eye, or prevent her personality from shining through. She added the laughter, sparkle and chaos to her family, and she will be dearly missed while we await seeing her again in the resurrection.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Edelman; and parents, Lyle and Evelyn Godfrey. She is survived by her children; daughters, Alethia (Allen) Larsen of Hood River, Oregon; Rachel (Joshua) Webb of Beloit; sons, Caleb (Monica) Edelman of Carbondale, Colorado; Craig (Lacey) Edelman of Beaverton, Oregon; grandchildren Jacob and Levi Larsen; Grace Webb, and Phoebe Edelman; brother, Bruce Godfrey, Manhattan, Ks; sisters Ruth (Patrick) Clancy, Castro Valley, California; Alice (Roger) Boyd, Hope, Arkansas; Sarah (David) Stone, Oakland, California; and a host of nieces, nephews and many dear cousins.

There will be a private Zoom memorial service held for Shirley on Saturday, September 26th at 3 pm.

Condolences may be mailed to 405 N. Sturgis St, Beloit, Ks 67420