Edna Wayne (Gibbens) Saunders

It is with great sadness that the family of Edna Wayne Saunders (nee Gibbens) wishes to announce that Edna Wayne passed away peacefully with family by her side January 20th, 2025.  Edna was born January 19th, 1938. 

Edna is survived by her three sons, Tommy Saunders (Julie), Danny Saunders (Heather) and Russell Saunders (Crystal); grandchildren, Catherine (Matt), Libbie Jean (Joe), Roy (Inna), Lawrie (Curt), Robert (Kara), Kelsey (Matt) and Wesley (Opal); great grandchildren, Leighton, Piper, Patrick and Oleg Daniel; sister, Nancy Curry (Bill); sister-in-law, Phyllis Gibbens, and nephews, James Gibbens (Cindy), Billie Carroll Gibbens (Michelle), Brad Curry (Amy), Jeff Curry (Shannon); sister-in-law, Dottie Saunders, and nephews, Jeff Saunders, Byron Saunders and Stuart Saunders; numerous extended family and many dear friends.

Edna Wayne was predeceased by her husband of nearly 59 years, Thomas Lester Saunders; parents, Carroll and Nettie Gibbens; brother, Bill Gibbens; brother-in-law, Dan Saunders; sister-in-law, Jean Eddins; brother-in-law, Jack Eddins; and nephews, Jim Eddins, John Eddins and Darrel Saunders.

Edna grew up in south Texas and had a childhood filled with fishing and hunting with her dad, going to horse races with her grandad, and spending many weekends with her Aunt Edna and cousin Carolyn.  Edna was very close to her brother, Billy and her younger sister, Nancy. 

On May 31, 1958, Edna Wayne Gibbens married Thomas Lester Saunders. Together they had three sons: Tommy Lynn, born in 1959; Danny, born in 1960; and Russell, born in 1961.

In 1965 Tom sold out in South Texas, loaded up his horses, dogs, kids and Edna, and move to a ranch 25 miles out of Princeton, British Columbia.  Edna had to quickly learn how to cook on a wood stove, live without TV, telephone and get by with a small generator for power.  The closest neighbors were 5 miles away, the closest phone was 10 miles away, and the closest store was 25 miles away on basically a logging road.  Tom promised Edna he would take her back to Texas for Christmas each year, which he did for many years. 

There were many great memories from the time they lived on the Princeton Ranch.  It was a time where when you went to visit a neighbor you either went at lunch time or supper time to make sure they would be there.  Tom was famous for inviting anyone he could find and invite for which ever meal it was, and Edna always found enough food somewhere.

One day Tom went to check cows up on the mountains where the cattle spent the summer on the range.  He didn’t show up by dark.  Edna had gone and found all the neighbors to go searching for him.  Tom came riding in way after dark wondering why all the neighbors were at the house.

One day, when the kids all left for school and Tom left to go cut hay, Edna looked out and the house was on fire!  She drove to a logging camp and got them to all come help, but since the house and garage were made of creosoted timbers, there was no putting it out.  All she managed to save were arrow heads and the guns.  They lost everything else they had.

Tom went to another part of the ranch and moved a large log cabin to a new building site, and Edna and the family lived in that until he could get a new log house built. 

Before the family moved out of the cabin, one night the back door was shaking.  Edna told Tom there was a cow trying to get into the house.  He jumped up and banged on the door and hollered.  It was not a cow, but a black bear trying to get in!  He grabbed his rifle, threw the door open and shot.  Edna said “you missed him!”  Tom told her “I did not miss him because I could feel him with the end of the barrel!”  There was always some kind of excitement going on. 

Tom and Edna also got all the kids involved in 4H. They would meet many lifelong friends up in that ranching country. Most of them are gone now but their kids are still all friends today.

In 1974 Tom sold the Princeton Ranch and move to Central Alberta.  He and Enda bought the farm south of Alix, and once again, they made many more good friends in the area. 

They both got involved in putting on the first Tees rodeo.  As all rodeoed, they would get involved with Alberta High school rodeo.  Edna loved rodeo. Tom and Edna would make several trips to the NFR with Leo and Ellen Marcil.  They would go to many CFRs in Edmonton.  They never missed a grandkid’s rodeo, basketball game, bowling, dancing, or anything else the grandkids were up to. 

The most enjoyment they had was when any or all the grandkids were at their house.  When Libbie and Catherine showed up there would be water slides in the front yard and anything else they could come up with, like fishing down at the pond and trips to town shopping.  Mom loved shopping for anything!

Tom and Edna did everything together.  When Tom got sick Edna spent every waking hour looking after him and never complained. In 2017 Tom passed away.  Edna stayed on the farm but always missing Tom.  She would still go to any rodeo or event she could get to.  Even making the CFR in Red Deer to watch Lawrie rope.  The Cowboy channel quickly became her favorite TV channel.  She never really knew if it was a live rodeo or one from last year, but it was a rodeo.

This is the time Edna enjoyed the visit from the grown-up grandkids the most.  You never knew which one would stop by and see her.

When the kids were young, Russell would end up the one who would have to go to town with Mom. Later, Russell made sure to help Tom and Edna go on trips out to Victoria.  He took Edna out one last time to visit the ranch in Princeton just a couple years ago. Russell was also the one who made sure Mom got to all her appointments.   Russell spent countless hours on the phone making sure she never got lonely.

Edna made sure, no matter what, she made it to every grandchild’s wedding.  Texas, Louisiana, Consort, West Texas, Spruce Grove or right here in Lacombe.  She did everything possible to make Wesley’s, but it just wasn’t to be.

Edna was a Texan thru and thru.  Her favorite flower was the Blue Bonnet.  Her favorite bird was the road runner.  As anyone who had been to her house would know, it was full of Road Runners.  Anywhere she went, people always knew she was from Texas.  It did not matter if it was a server, a cashier, a doctor, or a stranger in a parking lot, Edna made sure they knew.  She made sure to tell all the residents and staff at the Royal Oak she was from Texas and would be going back home there. 

All of the different care givers would become dear friends to Edna.  They were all be with her until the very end.  We consider them Edna’s angels. 

We would like to thank Kiara: Kiara spent many days with Edna while she could, would take her town, to hair appointments and places to eat, but would mostly visit with her.

Carla: Carla would spend hours with Edna at the Royal Oak.  If she was going past mom’s room she would always run in and talk to her and have prayer with her.  An amazing giving woman.

And of course, Bobbi: Bobbi spent many hours with Edna.  Bobbi would do her hair, load her and her dog up and take her touring.  Arguing with her and keeping her entertained right to the end. 

We do not know what we would off done without these three amazing individuals. Each one would be by her side right until the end.

We would also like to thank all the doctors and nurses at the Lacombe Hospital.  They took amazing care of our mother. 

A big thank you also to all the Staff, Care Givers, Nurses, Residents and Doctor Keller at the Royal Oak in Lacombe for all the loving care and friendship for our Mother. 

A Memorial Service to celebrate Edna Wayne’s life will be held at the Clive Fellowship Church (5316 48 St, Clive, Alberta) at 1:00 pm Friday, February 7, 2025. 

The family requests that in lieu of sending flowers, donations be made to the Lacombe Health Trust at lacombehealthtrust.com or Box 5663, Lacombe AB T4L 1X3;  or to the Clive Christian Fellowship Church (PO Box 207, Clive, AB T0C 0Y0).

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