Not many days go by that you don't cross my mind Joe Edwards. 
You are missed down here among us my friend. RIP. 

Best, 
Mike Pedigo

We are in total shock this evening as we have learned of Joey’s passing. We are sadden we didn’t get to tell him good bye or be there for his family during their time of grieving. Please know we loved Joey and that I agree he was always the life of the party. Joey was kind and loving. We will cherish our memories of years spent together. Much love to Joeys children and grandchildren that are left with his memories. 
Charlie & Michelle Walton 

So sorry to hear of Joe's passing. Lots of memories of our rodeo days in high school. Rest in Peace Joe. Prayers for family and friends.


Little Joe you were a good friend and life of the party.You love your family so much they were everything to you.You and Kevin Cook have been life long friends and I no he’s going to miss you.Fly high my friend fly high.Lana

Dear Mindy, Krista and Joby,
I pray you find comfort in the love of family and friends that surround you.  I’m so very sorry for your loss.
I have so many fond memories of your dad. 
Bull riding at buck outs and rodeos, riding horses at Cripple M stables and at the Edwards, Galveston vacations and watching Mindy and Krista grow up.  
Love and Prayers for you all.

Dad-

It has been a difficult two weeks and I have not fully processed you being gone but today I am ready to grieve with friends and family and lay you to rest. 

Growing up you were always there for me and one of the best people that I knew - sensitive and thoughtful about life and the challenges we all face. I always knew I that I could count on you. And whatever happened you took the high road - letting me make my own decisions and determinations about life.

You were the ultimate father- leaving your comfort zone to be part of my life, traveling to places you had zero interest in just to see me and eventually my family. 

I know family was incredibly important to you and it has given me great comfort to spend time with all of our family recently and especially to watch your grandkids play and have fun together. 

You had a big heart and always wanted to have fun. That approach to life is part of me. I will forever think of you as my son grows and has new experiences and as I take on new adventures.

I am devastated that you left us all so early. I hope that your indescribable loss reminds us who loved you that we all need each other and should be thankful for the time we have together.

You were so loved. 

Love Mindy 

Joey was a constant face at the Cripple M Ranch on Pioneer Rd. He was always there with Glen and the other McIlvain boys. He was always cheerful and fun.
Wanda (McIlvain) Jones.


I didn’t meet Joe until the 90’s, so he was never Lil Joe to me.  The biggest thing I noticed was how much he loved and cared for his children.  He earned my respect immediately, and I believe the respect was mutual, as he invited my wife and I to his TX-ou pregame parties, and boy were they parties!   He would let us park at the shop and run us over to Fair Park in his big Dually, and then pick us up after the game.  Joe was always smiling, very generous with his time, and his big heart was evident.   RIP my friend!!   I hope to see you on the other side.  

We called him Lil. Joe, but other than his size, there nothing lil about Joe, he lived large and I have some great memories of growing up around the Edward's family and Edward's Arena. Fly high my friend until we meet again.

Really fun guy. He lived life like no tomorrow. Wilder than march hare 
He will be missed by many

Mindy, Krista and Joby,
I am so sorry for your loss. Your Dad left this world way too soon.  When I think of Joe it reminds me of buck-outs, rodeos, bulls, 4 wheelers and horses, especially Squaw Baby, so it brings a smile to my face. You have to know of all his accomplishments you kids were what he was most proud of. He has a wonderful legacy with you and your children!  So with much sympathy I hope you can feel a hug around your neck. Love and prayers,  Deb 


The world won't be as fun now that your not with us but we have all those crazy and wild memories to keep us going until we meet again. Will never will forget the highways we went down and all the rodeos we went too. Seems like yesterday we switch vehicles and tore the hell out of them. Wouldn't change a thing. Will keep your spirit alive and in our prayers every day Cowboy. See you at the arena on the other side.
Rusty , Laurie & Breanna

It has been so good to read these posts from friends and family and see these pictures of Joey.  He was wonderfully fun and ornery in a good way.  Some of my fondest childhood memories with Joey were at their big house in the country- following him around and listening to his rodeo stories and possibly some tall tales.  I had forgotten about the gorilla suit.  He got me good one Halloween when a short little gorilla showed up at our front door repeating “trick or treat” and walking forward into our house.  And then there was the week I got to spend with him at his ranch house in Cumby.  He was very gracious and entertained me like royalty.  That was a wonderful week with lots of lessons learned about standard transmission pickup trucks, cattle auctions, bulls, cattle prod do’s and don’ts, smokeless tobacco, bourbon over ice is not ice tea, the need to wear a helmet on a three-wheeler, not to walk up behind a horse being groomed, and that little baby girls will spit up in your face when you hold them above your head and play airplane with them.  Then later in life I spent several summers working with Joey at the Sheetmetal shop when life was starting to get more real and Iess fun and games.  But Joey helped make it tolerable.  He would often say, “Hey Little Wilson, let’s go run some errands” to the bank or lunch or over to the roofing company.  He just had the uncanny ability to just make life fun and put a smile on your face.  He was so much like his father.  Joey and I had lost contact over the years, but thankfully reconnected over the last few months and had some very meaningful conversations.  And by chance or Divine intervention, I was able to spend an evening with him and family in November.  I learned a lot about Joey from our talks.  But what was most obvious, “Long story short…” was just how much his family (children, grandchildren and extended) meant to him.  And that he was trying to finish his life as well as possible.  I believe he did.

Memories of Joey:  Doing the twist at a birthday party when we were kids,  throwing tons of candy for the Easter egg hunt, dressing in a gorilla costume and chasing Andrew (we've never seen Andrew run so fast since :) )  taking Anne and Andrew on horse rides ---
He got a kick out of teasing the kids and we loved him for it!  So much laughter and so many smiles.


Even now, it's hard not to smile when I think about "Papa Joe" - I can't recall an encounter I had with him that didn't involve joy. Whether it was hanging out with the family in Galveston, watching the OU game in Mesquite, or living large in Las Vegas, Joe never made me feel like I didn't belong even though, as his daughter Mindy's friend, I was actually an outsider. Instead, he always made me feel welcome and part of the group - like family, even. His generosity and sense of humor are unforgettable. Mindy, Joby, and Krista, my thoughts and heart are with you all. 

Me, Little Joe, Ricky Bolin and Joe Spearman at a Bull Riding near Wylie Texas

Joe we had a lot of fun times together cheering the Longhorns on to beat the hated zero U but the one time I’ll never forget was driving around in your neighborhood in that crazy giant vehicle you had called a MOG. Not sure I’ve laughed as hard since. Being with you and having fun was synonymous. I loved sharing the name Papa with you to our beloved Charlotte. It’s a sad day at Lee Harvey’s without you. 

Joe
The summer of 1975 is one I’ll never forget.  It was 47 years ago but the memories last forever.  You and your family special to me and my family.  
Penny

Happy Birthday Joe! It still doesn’t seem real that you have gone home. You will always be missed so much, and you will always be loved by us. 
Andie & Kevin Cook

You know you have a true friend when he wants to buy your favorite pair of custom chaps after you have hung your bull rope for the last 
time , and he hands them back to you after he has done the same , and says thanks , and asked for nothing in return. 
Love me some Lil Joe. Ride em high in Heaven. 

Friend - Mike Pedigo 

Happy Birthday Dad. Its almost impossible to understand that you are no longer with us. It breaks my heart that your grandchildren will never get to look out the window and scream “Papa Joe is HERE!” and run to you to see what candy and toys you brought to them. It hurts that we will never see you get that “savage tan” on the beach again or argue with you over the AC temperature or sit down and scratch lottery tickets together. You created so many traditions with us and taught us to live large, have the most fun and to let kids be kids and spoil them. Things just won’t be the same without you and you will forever be missed. 

-Krista Rae 

Rest easy my friend. See ya again in God's arena. 

We called him little Joe but there was nothing little about Joe he was full of life and was raised by a great family, Joe would never call me Sandy, it was always Lumley what are you doing. Joe will be missed by a lot of people, but I will always cherish our friendship and the good times we had. God has received a blessing when he got Joe, love ya and will see you some day, and tell Pops Lumley said hello

RIP Joe , I remember all the fun times we had when we were young and carefree, living in Sulpher Springs and Cumby … May you be free on your eternal journey now and someday we will all reunite . Love and Prayers to you Beautiful daughters and son and grandbabies , may they find peace in your everlasting Love 

Leslie Logue-Anderson 

To his Children, I hope you find comfort in some of his early Pictures

Joe our friendship lasted a life time.The memory’s of our youth will forever stay with me.The Edwards family relationship 
Has been a true blessing thru our 52 year friendship .The thought of you not being here hurts.Andie and I have a big hole in our life now .You we’re the biggest little man that ever lived .We love you Joe 
Kevin and Andie Cook

OBITUARY

Joseph Franklin Edwards

27 January, 1959 – 23 January, 2022

Anderson-Clayton-Gonzalez Funeral Home

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