Edith Elaine Edwards Ahlers, born September 25, 1920, to Cecil Clyde and Jessie (Savage) Edwards in Marion, LA, passed away on February 4, 2014. Her childhood was spent in and around the north Louisiana towns of Marion, Haile, and Farmerville.
Elaine wrote her memoires at the request of her children and told of growing up on a farm during the depression years. It was a hard life but full of great stories and experiences which taught her perseverance, the value of relationships and teamwork. Her family lost their farm. They eventually moved to Monroe where Elaine went to business school. It was at her first job after school that she met Joe (Joseph Richard Ahlers).
They married in 1939. Joe and Elaine had their first child, Joe Jr., in 1941. Joe served in the Army during WWII, so Elaine and Joe Jr. moved to Pineville, LA to live with her dad. After the war the family moved to Bossier City where Joe worked for the IC Railroad. Two more children were born to them; Dianne in 1948 and Pam in 1953. Joe died in 1998. They were married 56 years. Elaine remained in their home on Whittington Street until 2011 when health issues made it impossible to stay.
Elaine was active in First Baptist Church Bossier from 1953 until 2011, serving in many roles there. She taught Sunbeams, RAs, and was director of the Juniors Department for many years. She worked in the Nursery Department for more than 30 years. In later years she served as greeter for the early Adult Sunday School. After her three children were all adults, Elaine went to nursing school and became an LPN. She worked at Northwest State School until her retirement in 1976. She loved “her” kids there. Every time she spoke of those years she would get teary.
As her health began to fail she wondered why God “kept her here”. Her children know. She taught them acceptance of circumstances with grace, as she moved from her independence to living in a nursing home. She rarely complained.
In her memoires some of her last words were, “I feel I have had a beautiful life…hard, yes, but my reward is a wonderful family. I’m ready to join my family and my Lord. Thy will be done, dear Father”.
Elaine is also preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Melba Lorraine Edwards Church, and Gully Edwards. She is survived by her three children, Joe Ahlers, Jr. (Ingrid), Dianne Moore (Bill), and Pam Ahlers; seven grandchildren, Debbie Ahlers Pipes (Jim), Rich Ahlers, Meredith Ahlers, Chris Moore, Casey Moore Morrow (Adam), Mandi Falkner, and Cori Falkner Normand (Aaron); fourteen great-grandchildren, Amber Pipes Walker (Josh), Trey Pipes, J.R. Ahlers, Ian Watson, Izzy Watson, Logan Ridenour, Georgia and Christopher Moore, Ben and Ellie Morrow, Noah and Collin Boyter, and Bradley and Brandon Normand; and one great-great-grandchild, Joshua Walker.
Honorary pallbearers are Leroy and Carolyn Faith, Dean and Dorothy Mulig, and Bob and Fran Jeffreys.
The family extends a very special thank you to Dr. Michael Rokaw, Lori and Sonya for giving Mrs. Ahlers quality of life in her last years. They would also like to thank the staff of Colonial Oaks Nursing Home and the friends and church family who remained faithful to check on her from time to time.
Charitable donations may be made in Elaine’s memory to the Diamond Set at First Baptist Church of Bossier, Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, or the charity of your choice.
“A CHALLENGE FOR THE NEW YEAR”
I knelt to pray when day was done.
And prayed, “O Lord, bless everyone:
Lift from each saddened heart the pain,
And let the sick be well again.”
And then I woke another day
And carelessly went on my way.
The whole day long I did not try
To wipe a tear from any eye.
I did not try to share the load
Of any brother on my road,
I did not even go to see
The sick man just next door to me.
Yet once again when day was done
I prayed, “O Lord bless everyone.”
But as I prayed, into my ear
There came a voice that whispered clear:
“Pause, thoughtless one, before you pray,
Whom have you tried to bless today:
God’s sweetest blessings always go
By hands that serve Him here below.”
And then I hid my face, and cried,
“Forgive me, I’ve not even tried.
Let me but see another day
And help me live the way I pray.”
Whitney Montgomery
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18