Edwina Jones Goens

Edwina J. Goens, 92, a devoted wife, loving mother, quintessential grandmother and caring sister of Las Vegas passed away October 6, 2016. She was born August 12, 1924 in Birmingham, Alabama, but grew up in Chicago and raised her family in Los Angeles. She had been a resident of Nevada since January 1987.

The always smiling Edwina was a gifted artist, an avid gardener and the family historian with dozens of volumes of photos and records in her library.

In her early years, she modeled with daughters Edwina Jr. and Nancee, and was a proud Cub Scout Den mother with her son John. Edwina and husband Wendell spent many years vacationing together, and with their family. Their many excursions included trips up the California coast and cruises to the Caribbean. They became seasoned globetrotters with daughter Wendy as they traveled to Paris, Rome, Florence and Venice.

Edwina loved listening and dancing to music with Wendell. They attended Monday night jazz concerts and enjoyed many musical performances by Earl Turner who, along with Clint Holmes, serenaded the “birthday girl” on her 92nd birthday.

Edwina made scores of friends during her long life, but enjoyed a special friendship with a circle of ladies known by her children as the “aunties.” Callie, Marian, Edith, Alva, Bertha, Margie and Ruby have been best friends forever.

Along with husband Wendell, Edwina joined the American Legion of Las Vegas, Post 14, twelve years ago and proudly continued membership with daughter Nancee despite her early struggles with her health.

She was deeply committed to genealogical research and was a member of the Genealogical Society of Henderson and North Las Vegas. Edwina had the privilege of submitting the family genealogical book to the West Las Vegas Library in 1995.

A devoted Catholic, Edwina had been a member of St. Margaret Mary in Lomita for many years, and of Christ the King Catholic Church for 30 years.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 64 years, Wendell E. Goens, and brothers, Charles and Rufus Jones. Edwina Goens is survived by her children, Edwina Clay, Nancee Mack, John “Tony” Goens, and Wendy Farrier; grandchildren, Michelle Ashley, Devin and Dennis Clay, Brandi (Talib) Khalfani, Kory Mack, Ramone and Malcolm Farrier; her nephew - like - a - son, Clinton Wilson; great-grandchildren, London (Brian) Ballinger, Lauren Springer, Jelani and Najja Khalfani; great-great grandchildren, Christopher, Caleb and Christian Ballinger and several nieces and nephews and extended family. A visitation will be held in her honor on Thursday, October 20th from 3-7pm at Palm South Jones Mortuary, 1600 S Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89146. The funeral mass will be held on Friday, October 21st at 10am at Christ the King Catholic Church, 4925 S. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89118 with the burial to follow at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veterans Memorial Drive, Boulder City, NV 89005.