Edith "Edie" Bea Roberts
Edith "Edie" Roberts Obituary
In Loving Memory
Edith (Edie) Bea (Tefft) Roberts
November 16, 1950 to May 7, 2024
Edie was born in Pendleton, Oregon to Harold (Bud) Vern Tefft and Alma (Wade) Tefft, joining older brother Harold, Jr. (Stormey). The family made their home on a small ranch in Eastern Oregon. Edie who was nine years younger than Stormey adored her older brother and he doted on her. While she was still young, they moved into the town of Echo, Oregon which lies on the Oregon Trail at Fort Henrietta. Family was always important, and Edie grew up with much extended family nearby.
Edie grew up attending Echo schools. She was a well-rounded student, participating in volleyball, cheerleading, band, and excelling in academics. She was valedictorian of her High School class and named an Oregon scholar.
After high school Edie married Fred H. Thomas III who was in the army. They would have one child together, Fred H. Thomas IV. During their marriage they would live in Pendleton, Oregon; Denver, Colorado; Columbia, South Carolina; Germany; and Savannah, Georgia. She particularly enjoyed touring the Castles in Europe while they were stationed there. After six years of marriage they divorced.
While living in Savannah, Edie met her lifelong partner, Rodney Roberts. The couple were married in the Fall of 1976 and formed a blended family with little Fred who was three years old. The family welcomed a daughter Tara in January of 1978. In 1983 they moved west to Grandview, Washington to be closer to Edie’s family. Rod found a job as a High School teacher and Edie soon started working for the schools as well. Edie made her career first as a clerical aid, then as a secretary within the school district. She was well respected and even received the honor of employee of the year twice in 1993 and 2004. She retired in 2012.
Church was a huge part of Edie’s life. She grew up in the Echo Methodist Church, attending worship and Sunday School nearly every week of her life. As a member of the Ellabell United Methodist and Grandview United Methodist Churches she taught Sunday School, led Vacation Bible School, co-led a women’s circle group, taught a Christian aerobics class, was Sunday School Superintendent and even helped lead the Kids for Camp scholarship ministry for a year.
Edie battled Type I Diabetes throughout her adulthood eventually having a double transplant of a kidney and pancreas in 1998. After a year, she was able to return to work full time; however, her health continued to deteriorate as the years went on. She would eventually end up on dialysis for the last six years of her life. Never one to be defeated, she endured with courageous strength and grace. Though she had lost much of her sight and mobility in later years, she continued to sew, crochet and knit, leaving behind a legacy of afghans and homemade gifts which blessed friends and family alike. One of her last projects was a custom made dialysis sweater of her own design.
Edie was preceded in death by her parents Bud and Alma Tefft, her brother Stormey Tefft, and sister-in-law Linda Tefft. She is survived by her husband of 47 ½ years, Rodney Roberts of Grandview; son, Fred H. Thomas IV of Chehalis, Washington; daughter Tara Roberts (Tracy Sandberg) and granddaughter Erin Sandberg all of Chehalis, Washington; nephew Harold (Smokey) Tefft III (Kara) of Yakima, Washington; nephew William Tefft of Echo, Oregon; niece Dianna (Tefft) Denne (Bob) of Knoxville, Tennessee and many great-nephews and nieces and great-great-nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made in Edie’s name to Prosser United Methodist Church or the American Kidney Fund.
A Celebration of Life will be held on June 8, 2024 at 3 pm at Prosser United Methodist Church with light refreshments to follow. Those wishing to sign “Edie” online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com Smith Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.
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