Edith M. (Roberts) Beardsley

Edith was born in Skedee, Oklahoma, March 4, 1919 to Henry Ellis and Rose Denomie Roberts. She entered into rest on November 27, 2016 in Pawnee, living an impressive 97 years only to succumb to a brief illness.Edith lived and raised a family in Navajo Nation, New Mexico and upon the death of her husband, returned to Pawnee. She had a home built, raised a teen aged son, cared for her parents and her beloved Aunt Lena. She was a resident of the Pawnee community up until her demise.Edith left a legacy of community service and dedication to her Catholic religion; a proud parishioner of St. John, The Evangelist, Catholic Church of Pawnee.Having served as Tribal Council Member in the late 1970's, the first woman voted into office by her Pawnee tribesmen, an unprecedented accomplishment. She expressed gratitude and pride.Edith was a granddaughter descendant of Chief Rush Roberts.Her last years, she enjoyed her hard earned home, to be living in that home, attending Mass when able and an occasional trip to a casino. She loved road trips to visit her sister, family and friends of New Mexico and of course living and traveling with her devoted companion, Lucy, her dog she raised from a puppy.Edith loved her family, her friends, her Pawnee affiliation and devotion to God.Edith was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Rose; aunts, Vivian Archambault and Lena Tafoya. She had three brothers, Vandevoort James, Henry Ellis, Jr., and a non-surviving newborn boy. She survived the loss of her first born son, Donald Dean Rouwalk and her husband, Raymond Beardsley; sons, Norman Charles and Clinton Rush. She was also preceded by two grandchildren, Jonathan and Morning Star Beardsley.She is survived by a sister, Florence Mae Alexander, 103 years old, Los Lunas, New Mexico; daughters, Margaret Rose Becenti, Tohatchi, New Mexico; Mary Catherine, Gaithersburg, Maryland; and sons, Gordon Eli, Bosque Farms, New Mexico; and Daniel Andrew, Pawnee. She also leaves a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, distant relatives and dear friends.There will be a Rosary at the Poteet Chapel on Wednesday, November 30, 2016, at 7:00 p.m.Funeral service will be Thursday, December 1, 2016, 10:00 a.m., at St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church in Pawnee, under direction of Poteet Funeral Home and Cremation Services.