Catherine Jean Edmiston, 87, Abingdon, passed away at 2:10 a.m., Sunday, August 6, 2017 surrounded by loving family at home. She was born on Dec. 6, 1929, the daughter of Homer and Edith (Rolf) Attebery. She was raised on the family farm west of Hillsboro.
Catherine was a graduate of Hillsboro High School, class of 1946 and of the University of Illinois, class of 1950. She received a Masters in Education from WIU in 1982.
She worked in U of I Home Extension as a home advisor in Johnson County, before marrying Robert Edmiston on October 13, 1951 in Hillsboro.
They settled in Abingdon in 1961 with their three children. Catherine taught 4th Grade at the Hedding Grade School from 1965 to 1994, and substitute taught for seven years afterward. Teaching was her lifelong passion.
In retirement, she became an avid quilter, creating beautiful quilts for family and friends. She actively passed that craft on to her grandchildren, along with her love for books, gardening and pinochle.
She organized and was a charter member of Citizens Against Longwall Mining. The CALM group has been active for over a decade attempting to save land and water from the ravages of longwall coal mining and strip mining in Montgomery County, where her family owns Centennial farms. She was a longtime member of the Montgomery County Farm Bureau.
Catherine was a fifty-year member of Abingdon UMC, where she taught Sunday School to adults and children, served as a delegate to Annual Conference and was a longtime member of the church board, including serving as the Social Action Chair.
She attended and volunteered at Carl Sandberg College for Seniors, was Abingdon Rep. For Knox Co. Retired Teachers Assoc., and was a member of Knox Co. Home Economists. She enjoyed playing piano at the Abingdon Care Center and faithfully visited with homebound friends.
Catherine is survived by two sons, David (Deborah) Edmiston of Davenport, IA, and Charles (Gretchen) Edmiston of Rushville. ; one daughter, Laura (Steve) Madsen of Crowley, TX; her grandchildren, Christian (Dena) Edmiston, Minneapolis, MN, Amanda Edmiston, Denver, CO, Sarah Catherine Edmiston, Jacksonville, Benjamin (Therese) Edmiston, Naperville, Jillian (Travis) Becquet, Corpus Christi, TX and Kirsten Madsen, New York, NY; great-grandchildren Maxwell Cameron Edmiston and Bennett Alexander Edmiston, Minneapolis and Kyleigh Grace Edmiston of Naperville. She was a twin, and is survived by her sister, Barbara (John) Scott of Champaign.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Mary Ellen Phelps, and her grandson, Nathan Edmiston.
A visitation will be held at Hinchcliff-Pearson-West funeral home in Abingdon on Friday night, August 11, 2017 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. A memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 12, at Abingdon UMC. A graveside service will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Hillsboro at 4:00 p.m.
Memorials may be made to CALM, PO Box 274, Hillsboro, IL 62049, or to the Abingdon United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.
