Edward ”Ed” Eugene Ertel

Edward ”Ed” Eugene Ertel, 91, passed away Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Barefoot Bay, Fla.

Ed was born to Chester and Christie Ertel in Maywood, Calif., on July 30, 1932, later moving to Shelbina, Mo. He graduated from Shelbina High School in 1950. He married Janice Kay Gibson, also of Shelbina, on May 2, 1953. Ed then matriculated to the University of Missouri. He served in the Army following graduation.

In 1960 the family moved to Blytheville, Ark., where they spent the next 20 plus years. Ed was a deacon in the First Christian Church and an active member of Kiwanis. He served as the chair of the United Way, on the board of the YMCA, among other community roles. He loved his opportunity to coach softball and baseball teams.

Ed was an electrical engineer for the then Blytheville-based Arkansas-Missouri Power Company (Ark-Mo) and later Arkansas Power and Light until retiring. In the mid-’70s, Ed and Janice opened the retail store, J-Kay’s, located in the Montgomery Ward shopping center. They moved to Little Rock in the mid-’80s where Ed retired from APL. After retirement, they traveled in their RV and loved to see new places. They moved to Eustis, Fla., in 1991 to be close to their children and grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Ed was preceded in death by his brother, John. Ed is survived by his wife of 70 years, Janice Kay; children, Debra Kay, also of Barefoot Bay, Fla., and Mark Edward of Jacksonville, Fla.; and grandsons, Elliot Edward, Westminster, Colo., and Evan Archer, Jacksonville, Fla.

Ed’s remains will be memorialized in a private family ceremony. If you are interested in contributing in Ed’s name, we ask that you donate to your local Alzheimer’s support and care provider.