Cliff Edwards, passed from this world on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at the age of 90, in Springfield, MO.

Cliff was born at home in Dunnegan, MO on Tuesday,  November 19, 1935 to Lester and Zula Edwards, their second son. He grew up working and frequently getting into mischief on his parent’s farm alongside his brother Red. He attended Humansville elementary and Fair Play high school where he played basketball. Out of high school he got a job delivering groceries for Robinson Grocery Company. During this time, he also was an avid local stock car driver in the area which was where he first met his future wife, Carol Jenkins at the racetrack her family owned in Ava, MO the Ava Speedway. Cliff was drafted into the Army and served his county earning the rank of Sergeant. During his service Cliff was a member of the color guard and served in Germany where he was able to meet Elvis which was a favorite story, he enjoyed telling of that time.

Upon his return from the service Cliff worked for his future father-in-law T.V. Jenkins at his service station the Republic Truck Stop in Republic, MO before he went to work for Frisco Railroad where he spent the next 36 years as a switchman/foreman retiring in 1997 from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. Shortly after he started working for the railroad, he married his wife Carol and they had two children, Canda and Craig. Being a father and eventually a grandfather to Craig and his wife Jeanna’s daughter Olivia were his greatest joys.

Cliff enjoyed many hobbies including having cattle and doing the ranching duties to care for them, including baling hay. He was a lifelong gardener and was known for his corn and tomatoes. He fished, gigged and hunted with many friends and family throughout the years. He especially enjoyed quail and pheasant hunting and visited family friends, the Stocklands in South Dakota to pheasant hunt every year for many years. He enjoyed boating, riding ATVs, attending NASCAR races, caring for his dogs and cats and many other activities working and playing with family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Carol Edwards; daughter, Canda Edwards; son Craig Edwards and his wife, Jeanna, and their daughter,and his beloved granddaughter Olivia Edwards. He is also survived by his brother, Red Edwards and his children, Jackie Velten and her husband, Jim and their two children; Jimmy Edwards and his wife, Vicki and their three children; sister, Helen Morrill and her two children and friends that became family, Todd Pyle and his wife, Jody and their 3 children Kali, Maxx and Ross; Adam Pyle and his wife, Kim and their son ,Denver; Nick Pyle and his wife, Kelley; and Chris and Pat Siefker and their daughters, Lynn Stegall and Kendra Siefker and many other friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Zula Edwards, four infant siblings, a beloved uncle Charlie Carneal; cousins Oren and Helen Carneal, his sister-in-law Jean Edwards, his best friend Howard Pyle and many beloved hunting and companion dogs through the years.

Visitation is from 11:00 AM-1:00 PM with service at 1:00 PM on Friday, April 3, 2026 at Klinger-Cope Funeral Home Rivermonte with burial at 2:00 P.M. at Rivermonte Memorial Gardens Cemetery with full military honors.