Edna Lucille Boyle's Obituary
A Family JourneyEdna was born in Nashville, Tennessee, to Buford and Alice Eakes. Edna’s life has been surrounded by family. Her own family included 5 brothers and sisters. With her late husband, Charlie Boyle, they raised six children and had a life filled with grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.A Legend of LaughterTo get a true sense of Edna and her character, one only need to spend time listening to her family speak of her life. Voice after voice overrides the other with a hilarious anecdote, a highlight of her idiosyncrasies, and lots and lots of laughter. Edna laughed all of the time and her sense of humor was a source of true pleasure for her family. She would snore to such an extreme that the recollection of it brought about laughter. She would complain that she didn’t have enough shoes, though her closet contained hundreds. One noteworthy event was Edna’s blessing of the chicken. Christian, within a Catholic household, Edna’s service of chicken on a Friday night mandated that she bless it…a humorous ceremony.A True BeautyEdna was beautiful. She took care to always present herself in a fashionable and graceful manner. Her hair, which began to go grey in her twenties and later a brilliant white, was a source of pride and admiration. Some of her beauty regime was compulsive; she brushed her teeth about twenty times per day, and ensured that she, and family, scrubbed their feet…before and after entering the bath. She always dressed nicely. Even her “dusters,” little house dresses, were fashionable. Noted with laughter by her daughters, on special occasions Edna would buy a fancy dress, wear it…then take it back!Finding IndependenceEdna’s children noted that she enjoyed being independent and her own person, when forced to do so after the passing of her husband in 1983. She worked for the Christian Corporate Ministry and flourished. She loved taking care of the babies in the church nursery. She found an interest in learning to drive and enjoyed this thoroughly. This independence allowed her to continue to be “the best mother and grandmother in the whole world.”Keeping BusyEdna’s large family pleasantly occupied most of her time. Raising her children and enjoying their children was the dominant joy in her life. Beyond that, Edna enjoyed music, both gospel and country, dancing, and watching the afternoon soap operas.A Loving and Laughing LegacyEdna passed away on June 29, 2012. She was preceded in death by her parents, Buford and Alice Eakes; sisters, Thelma Love and Louada Binkley; brothers, William Eakes and Buford Eakes; her husband, Charles Roger Boyle; son, Buford Boyle Sr.; grandson, John Roger Pugh; and great grandson, Charles I. Boyle III. She is survived and remembered lovingly by her children Carolyn Sosh, Charles I. Boyle, Brenda (Eddie) Harvey, Mary Watts, Rose (Brad) Hauf, daughter-in-law, Gayle Boyle, 16 grandchildren and numerous great and greatgreat grandchildren. Edna taught the importance of peace and a forgiving heart; her patience made her stand apart. She leaves behind a legacy of laughter; memories of traits and moments that will long bring joy to her extended family.
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