Gary A. Edwards

Gary Alan Edwards, of Duryea, passed away on Friday. He was married to the former Lehrae Ann Cramer. The couple celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary.

Born on August 6, 1953, in Moosic, he was the son of the late William Henry and Lucy Rose Morris Edwards. Gary was a 1971 graduate of Riverside High School and a Johnson College Alum. During his childhood, he was a paper boy for the Scranton Times and later worked as a short order cook at the Moosic Diner. He also worked at GNB, Dunmore and Scranton Wire Works, Old Forge, where he was the Treasurer for Cal Jean. He was employed by the Luzerne County Transit Association for the past 26 years as a bus driver on the #16 run and was a member of the Amalgamated Transit Workers’ Union. For many years on the weekends, he drove the shuttle for the King’s College.

Gary received the George Meany BSA Award from the NEPA Council BSA Moosic and was an Asst. Scoutmaster for Duryea Troop 285, serving as Treasurer. He was a den leader and treasurer for Duryea Pack 375. He was a member of the Polka Gems of Avoca, performing polka dances for many area nursing homes. He was a member of Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Duryea.

He was a member of the National Slovak Society, Pittsburg, and served as President of the NSS Leaf 75, Duryea, for many years. He was a member of NSS Region 2 and former President of NSS Region 5, attending many NSS Life conventions as a delegate.

He enjoyed sitting as his perch, traveling, lottery tickets, watching his sons and grandsons play sports, his granddaughter cheer, watching TV, especially Judge Judy and Fox News. He loved to fight about politics and enjoyed lounging in his tube in the pool. He checked all the cars faithfully on the 1st of each month and made a project out of cutting the grass.

In addition to his wife, Lehrae, he is survived by two sons, Matthew and his wife Franchesca Pintha Edwards, Avoca, and son, Maxwell Edwards, Adam Edwards, Avoca, and his companion Karen Richardson and children Adam and Allie Lazar, a brother, Dennis and wife Theresa, Scranton, sister in-laws, Marlin Petro-Wesnak, Moosic, Lucy (Tom) Piccoletti, Old Forge, Pamela (Max) Dawson, Gridley, CA, Laura Kitty (Matt) Coudua, Prescott, AZ, nieces, nephews, and godchildren.

Gary was preceded in death by five brothers; William, Thomas, Michael (Butch), Richard, and Bradley Edwards, three sisters, Nancy Evans, Carolyn Shaffer, and Bonnie Semmelmann.

Gary’s funeral will be held on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. from the Louis V. Ciuccio Funeral Home, 145 Moosic Road, Old Forge, followed by a 10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at the Nativity of Our Lord Parish, 127 Stephenson Street, Duryea, to be celebrated by the Rev. Michael Bryant, Pastor. Interment Elmhurst Fairview Cemetery.

Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects to Gary on Tuesday evening from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.