WILLIAM ELMER EDWARDS, JR. (Bill Edwards), age 86, of Cairo, IL, was born April 12, 1929 and passed from this life, February 24, 2016.

Devoted Christian, father, husband and teacher, Bill is survived by his daughter, Dr. Jackie Edwards-Henry of Starkville, Mississippi, his brother, Robert Edwards of Harrisburg, Illinois, and four nephews and two nieces.

Preceding him in death are his son-in-law, Dr. William Henry, his wife, Martha Chrestman Edwards, his sister, Edith Edwards Pennell, Appleton, Wisconsin, his mother, Mollie Monan Edwards, and his father, William Elmer Edwards, Sr. of Cairo.

He lived most of his life in Cairo, Illinois. Upon his graduation from Cairo High School, he joined the army and served for two years in Panama. He worked for Union Carbide, Kevil, Kentucky following military service and then went to Southern Illinois University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in education. His first teaching position was in Tamaroa, Illinois, and his remaining teaching years were spent in Cairo, Illinois, from 1962-1978, where he taught junior high science, and high school math and history. He earned a master's degree in education from Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky in 1970. After his retirement in 1978, he continued to substitute in various schools in Southern Illinois until 2008. His final years (2012-2016) were spent as a resident of the Life Care Center, Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral hour at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 1, 2016, at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston, Mo. The Rev. Dr. Larry Potts, pastor of the Mighty Rivers Regional Worship Center in Cairo, IL, will officiate.

Interment will follow in the Spencer Heights Cemetery at Mounds, IL, under the direction of the McMikle Funeral Home of Charleston, Mo.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com