Edith L Shear, 88, died Wednesday evening, September 26th , 2018, at the Pines of Hiawatha.

Edie and her twin sister Emma (Kale) were born December 7th, 1929 in rural Jackson County, KS near Delia, to Gomer and Ruth Jenkins. She had fond memories of her childhood in rural Jackson County, particularly the time spent with her many cousins. The family moved for a short time to Garden City, Ks and then to Berkley, California. After the death of her father, the family moved to Hiawatha, Ks where Edie graduated with the Hiawatha High School class of 1947. On August 9th, 1948 she married William “Bill” Shear.

Bill’s career gave them the opportunity to live in many places including Youngstown, Ohio, and Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area of California, Louisiana, Kansas City, and finally retiring back to Hiawatha in 1987.

Edie and Bill would joke about dying only a handful of miles from their birthplaces, yet they traveled the world together and knew how to savor the day and the people around them, no matter where they were. They relished the life they had built together.

Edie and her twin sister, Emma, and their mother Ruth ran an antique store in Hiawatha for many years. A sale or flea market rarely passed without Edie in attendance. They were known locally for their vast knowledge of antiques. Edie and Emma would sometimes do Antique Road Show type presentations locally where people could bring their antiques and Edie and Emma would be able to give them a little background on the item as well as an estimated value.

Edie is preceded in death by her husband, Bill Shear, parents, Gomer Jenkins and Ruth Jenkins Kale, step father Wayne Kale, brother in law Jerry Kale, and nephew Murry Kale.

She is survived by her sister, Emma Kale of Hiawatha; nieces: Claudia Kale (Ted Socolofsky) of Loveland, Co, Sharon Stelzer (Matt) of Albuquerque, NM, and Jenny Knudson (Bruce), of Hiawatha, as well as great nieces Annika Socolofsky of Princeton, New Jersey, Paloma Kwiedacz of Phoenix, AZ, Savannah Stelzer of Seattle, Washington, and Becca Knudson of Hiawatha.

A Celebration of Edie’s life is planned for 11 a.m. Monday, October 1, at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, Hiawatha. Shane Spangler will officiate. Interment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Hiawatha.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 12 noon Sunday. The family will meet with friends one hour prior to services Monday.

A special message or remembrance may be sent to the family at  www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com

Memorial contributions are suggested to Brown County Historical Society, sent in care of the funeral home, 124 S 7th St., Hiawatha 66434