Jeff S. Edwards

and friends after a 2 year gallant battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born November 21,

1962, in Warwick, Rhode Island, to his mother, Carol Shepard, and father, Gerald Edwards. He

was the middle child of three boys. Jeff also has one younger sister from his father's second

marriage. He met his wife Debbie in June of 1988 and they married on September 9, 1990.

They were blessed with their daughter in 1993 and their son in 1995. Jeff and Debbie were

happily married for 20 years and 8 months.

Jeff served his country in the U.S. Army from 1981 until 1996. First, he served in the 82nd

Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, then the remainder of his Army career in South and Central

America. He also served in the Air Force Reserves for a brief time at Peterson Air Force Base

and the remainder of his Air Force Career with the Wyoming Air National Guard. During his

service with the Air National Guard, Jeff deployed 5 times to the Middle East in service to his

country. He served his country for a total of 29 years. Jeff was diagnosed with stage 4

pancreatic cancer after his return from Iraq in June of 2009. He was medically retired from the

Air National Guard as a Master Sergeant on October 25,2010. In his civilian life, Jeff began his

firefighter career as a volunteer with Donald Wescott Fire Protection District in 1995. He was

hired to a full-time position in 1997. He gradually progressed in the ranks with Wescott until he

became Chief of the department in 2005. Jeff retired from Wescott on December 31, 2010. He

volunteered in activities with MDA and PANCAN.

Jeff is survived by his daughter Amber, his son Brian and his wife Debbie. He is also survived by

his mother and step-father, Carol and Bob Shepard, his father Gerald Edwards, his brothers LJ

Edwards and Jon Edwards and his sister Katherine Coolen.

Jeff will be honored with a memorial service open to the public at New Life Church on

Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 10:00 am. Jeff will be laid to rest at a later time during a private

service for his family. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Pancreatic Cancer Action

Network to further pancreatic cancer research or to Pikes Peak Hospice who lovingly cared for

Jeff in the last weeks of his life. Special thanks to Dr. Messersmith and his medical team at

University Hospital in Denver for giving us an additional 23 months with Jeff. Sincere gratitude

and appreciation to all of our family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors for all of their support

and prayers for Jeff.

Arrangements under the direction of Memorial Gardens Cemetery & Funeral Home, Colorado Springs, CO.