Mary
Mary Beth Edgemon
Mary Beth Edgemon
passed away July 12, 2017, at the age of 99. She was born in Tuttle, Oklahoma May 18, 1918 to Reverend C.C. and Erie Williamson. She was the youngest of their three surviving daughters and the older sister to her brother. As a Methodist minister’s daughter, she moved with her family to a different Oklahoma town and Methodist parsonage approximately every two years. Reverend Williamson insisted that all his children attend college, including the girls, which was very unusual at that time. Because of his forsight and guidance, Mary Beth graduated from University of Oklahoma in 1938, with a Bachler of Science degree in Education. She got her teaching certificate in August 1939 and taught Journalism, English and Spanish in multiple schools in Oklahoma. She would also get a Masters’ in Education from University of Oklahoma in 1961 and a Masters’ in Counseling from Arizona State University in 1972. She strongly believed in being a life-long learner.
On June 1, 1940, she married Walter LeGrand. In September 1944, they welcomed identical twin boys, Larry and Michael. After the war, they moved around Oklahoma as Walter took various school Principal jobs. Walter passed away in 1953. Mary Beth raised her two boys alone until June 10, 1956 when she married Bernard Edgemon in Walters, Oklahoma. They welcomed a daughter, Susan, in March 1957. Mary Beth taught high school in Oklahoma for 22 years. In 1961, She and Bernie moved their family to Chandler, Arizona where Mary Beth took a job teaching English and Journalism at Chandler High School. She taught there until her retirement in 1981. During those 20 years, she was a tough, well-respected and beloved teacher. Many of her students have commented how much she changed their lives, by her emphasis on strong writing skills. Among her students were people who have become Mayors of major cities (like Chandler), Senators and House of Representatives and leaders of major corporations.
Mary Beth was proceeded in death by her parents, siblings, husband Walter LeGrand, sons Michael C. and Larry J. LeGrand, grandson M. Lance LeGrand and husband of 56 years, Bernard Edgemon. Mary Beth is survived by her daughter, Susan Rugland, grandson Scott (Stephanie) LeGrand, granddaughters Lisa (John) LeGrand Gregory, Casey (Jerame) Rugland Tassoul, Erin Rugland and three great-grandsons, Aidan and Cale Gregory and Braxton Tassoul.
Since Mary Beth was a life-long Methodist and a member of Chandler United Methodist Church from the time she arrived in Chandler until her death, her celebration of life will be held at Chandler United Methodist Church (450 E. Chandler Heights Road) on Saturday, July 22 at 9:30 AM. Interment will be immediately following at Valley of the Sun Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Bueler Mortuary (14 W. Hulet, Chandler) Friday, July 21 from 6 Pm to 8 PM.
A scholarship is being established at Chandler Education Foundation to honor Mrs. Edgemon. You can donate in her name at Chandler Education Foundation, at
https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=273a5f
, Select Scholarship Sponsor, include Mary Beth Edgemon Scholarship in the notes.
passed away July 12, 2017, at the age of 99. She was born in Tuttle, Oklahoma May 18, 1918 to Reverend C.C. and Erie Williamson. She was the youngest of their three surviving daughters and the older sister to her brother. As a Methodist minister’s daughter, she moved with her family to a different Oklahoma town and Methodist parsonage approximately every two years. Reverend Williamson insisted that all his children attend college, including the girls, which was very unusual at that time. Because of his forsight and guidance, Mary Beth graduated from University of Oklahoma in 1938, with a Bachler of Science degree in Education. She got her teaching certificate in August 1939 and taught Journalism, English and Spanish in multiple schools in Oklahoma. She would also get a Masters’ in Education from University of Oklahoma in 1961 and a Masters’ in Counseling from Arizona State University in 1972. She strongly believed in being a life-long learner.
On June 1, 1940, she married Walter LeGrand. In September 1944, they welcomed identical twin boys, Larry and Michael. After the war, they moved around Oklahoma as Walter took various school Principal jobs. Walter passed away in 1953. Mary Beth raised her two boys alone until June 10, 1956 when she married Bernard Edgemon in Walters, Oklahoma. They welcomed a daughter, Susan, in March 1957. Mary Beth taught high school in Oklahoma for 22 years. In 1961, She and Bernie moved their family to Chandler, Arizona where Mary Beth took a job teaching English and Journalism at Chandler High School. She taught there until her retirement in 1981. During those 20 years, she was a tough, well-respected and beloved teacher. Many of her students have commented how much she changed their lives, by her emphasis on strong writing skills. Among her students were people who have become Mayors of major cities (like Chandler), Senators and House of Representatives and leaders of major corporations.
Mary Beth was proceeded in death by her parents, siblings, husband Walter LeGrand, sons Michael C. and Larry J. LeGrand, grandson M. Lance LeGrand and husband of 56 years, Bernard Edgemon. Mary Beth is survived by her daughter, Susan Rugland, grandson Scott (Stephanie) LeGrand, granddaughters Lisa (John) LeGrand Gregory, Casey (Jerame) Rugland Tassoul, Erin Rugland and three great-grandsons, Aidan and Cale Gregory and Braxton Tassoul.
Since Mary Beth was a life-long Methodist and a member of Chandler United Methodist Church from the time she arrived in Chandler until her death, her celebration of life will be held at Chandler United Methodist Church (450 E. Chandler Heights Road) on Saturday, July 22 at 9:30 AM. Interment will be immediately following at Valley of the Sun Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Bueler Mortuary (14 W. Hulet, Chandler) Friday, July 21 from 6 Pm to 8 PM.
A scholarship is being established at Chandler Education Foundation to honor Mrs. Edgemon. You can donate in her name at Chandler Education Foundation, at
https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=273a5f
, Select Scholarship Sponsor, include Mary Beth Edgemon Scholarship in the notes.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Beth Edgemon, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 4
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors