Edith L Read

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 24, 2017 in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL with Pastor Randy Miller and Pastor Steve Hayes officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville, IL. Memorials may be given to her family.

Edith was born on July 4, 1930 in Henton, IL, the daughter of Vernie Ray and Elizabeth Caroline (Stockdale) Beckett. She attended Robinson Creek School near Shelbyville, IL. She later attended Lake Land College in Mattoon, IL. Edith worked for Hygrade Foods in Shelbyville, IL from 1955-65, the Garment Factory in Shelbyville, IL from 1958-59, Brown Shoe Company in Sullivan, IL from 1965-1970, Crest Container Company in Shelbyville, IL from 1970-79, Coleman Company in Houston, TX from 1984-1990 and then provided in-home health care from 1990-92. Edith is a former member of the First Baptist Church in Shelbyville, IL and is a current member of Knobs Baptist Church in Tower Hill, IL. She was a former Sunday school and child evangelism teacher and a 4-H leader. Edith married Richard Stewardson on April 18, 1948. He died on December 25, 1989. She married Charles William Read on August 11, 1979. He died August 8, 1994.

She is survived by her children, Paul Stewardson of Princeton, KY, Don Stewardson and wife Martha of Pana, IL, Sharon Davis of Mattoon, IL, Karen Woodworth of Mattoon, IL, Linda Dilley and husband Mike of Mattoon, IL and Vernie Stewardson of Urbana, IL; 20 grandchildren; 57 great grandchildren; and 8 great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; brothers, Harold Beckett and Arthur Beckett; sons-in-law, Dudley Woodworth and Joe Phillips; and great granddaughter, Olivia Dilley.

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