Edith Vernell Gaa

Edith Vernell Gaa, age 90, of Murfreesboro, Arkansas went home to be with Jesus on Tuesday, October 11, 2022. She was born on January 2, 1932, in Kirby, Arkansas to Preston Turner and Minnie Babbitt-Turner.

Edith will be remembered for her character, wit, mental toughness, confidence, and kindness. She often reminisced on her school days as a class representative, theatre performer, football cheerleader, and basketball star who scored “32 points in one game”. After graduating, she moved to Fort Wayne, IN, where she married, raised 6 children, and dedicated 10 years as a Quality Control Inspector at Magnavox and 18 years as a waitress at Don Hall’s diner. In retirement, she enjoyed listening to her vast music collection, caring for animals, watching college basketball, and engaging in conversations over coffee. She was known as an avid gardener, bird watcher, bowler, socialite, and music connoisseur, hugged on by both Willie Nelson and Marty Stewart and kissed on by Vern Gosdin. Edith leaves behind prized wisdom: “Always stay positive”, “Use common sense”, “Jesus is the best friend you’ll ever need”, “In order to make it in life, you need a personality”, “People take life too seriously. Gotta learn to laugh a little”, “Why not just laugh about it”, and “If you can say you’ve got 2 good friends in this world, you’re lucky”.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Preston Turner and Minnie Babbitt-Turner; her husbands, Charles Cox and Don Gaa; her siblings, Leonard Doyce Turner, Wilma Dingler, and baby Turner; her son, Michael D. Cox; her grandchildren, John Charles Cox, Kaitlynn Cox, and Angel Cox; and many beloved friends and schoolmates.

She is survived by her children, Charles (Beverly) Cox of Fort Wayne IN, Deborah (John) Oliver of Afton MI, Terry (Diana) Cox of Murfreesboro AR, Kevin (Tamzen) Cox of McCaskill AR, and Stacy (Kevin) Jones of Fort Wayne IN; her grandchildren, Donavon Cox, Ciara Ikein, Saxton Cox, Dallas Cox, Charlie Cox, and Abreanna Cox; and her siblings, Velma Cowart of Lodi AR, Betty Hill of Fort Smith AR, Peggy (Gerald) Liticker of Oklahoma City OK, Preston (Maricon) Turner of Conway AR, Frances (Ed) Cowart of Lodi AR, Dwight (Keitha) Turner of Hot Springs AR, and Diane (Bill) Henderson of Murfreesboro AR.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, October 15, 2022, in the Smith Family Funeral Home Chapel in Glenwood with Bro. Kyle Cowart officiating.

Visitation will be held Saturday, 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM, prior to the services at the funeral home.

Interment will be in the Murfreesboro Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to support the veterans at Disabled Veterans, www.dav.org, or Tunnels to Towers, www.t2t.org.

Guest registry is at www.smithfamilycares.com.