Thomas Edwards

Thomas E. Edwards of St. Charles, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 28, 2025, at the age of 95. He was a loving father to six children, Debra, Patricia, Elizabeth, Thomas L., Nancy, and J. Christopher, along with an additional 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bessie (Stephens) Edwards in 2022.

Family gatherings in their St. Charles home would often have 40+ people in attendance. Growing up on a small farm in southern Missouri, Tom developed a love for the outdoors and in particular fishing. Most holidays or camping trips included the hours of solitude fishing from a dock or river bank could provide.

For most of his working life, Tom worked in construction. He spent many years as a foreman for the Ben F. Blanton Construction Company. He used these skills to serve others. He not only helped his family with projects on their homes, but also assisted with the construction or renovation of several local churches (Harvester Church of the Nazarene and Gateway Church of the Nazarene) and church construction projects in other countries through Work & Witness mission trips.

Once retired, Tom and Bessie traveled many miles in their RV seeing the USA and it’s beauty. Of course, the fishing pole was always included and they would return home to fill the freezer with the latest catch. The trip Tom spoke of most often was their trip to Alaska, pulling their pop-up trailer. These memories would bring him much joy in later years.

Tom was a committed christian and dedicated churchman as a member of the Gateway Church of the Nazarene for many decades. He served the church in many different capacities over the years and could often be seen at home studying the weekly lessons in preparation for each Sunday’s class.

If you would like to honor Tom’s memory with a donation, the family asks that funds be directed to the Gateway Church of the Nazarene designated for a future Work & Witness project.