MERNA K. EDWARDS, 89 LANARK - Merna K. Edwards, 89, of Lanark passed away on Friday, April 25, 2014, at the Good Samaritan Society in Mt. Carroll. She was a longtime member of the F'irst Brethren Church. Merna was born on June 28, 1924, in Carroll County to Harry and Lelah (Ford) Shipman. She married LaVerne Edwards on January 22, 1944. She is survived by her son, Larry (Linda) Edwards of Pearl City; grandchildren, Angie (Dave) Stichter of Shannon and Troy (Angelica) Edwards of Freeport; great-grandchildren, Ashley Stichter (Travis Denning) of Deer Grove, Cole Stichter of Denver, CO, Dylan Stichter of Shannon, Zechariah and Zayden Edwards of Freeport; and several relatives in the Lanark, Mt. Carroll, and Milledgeville areas. Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, LaVerne; son, Dallas; and twin brothers, Don and LaVerne Shipman of Milledgeville. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 30, 2014, at the First Brethren Church in Lanark. The visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church. Merna will be laid to rest next to her husband and son at the Lanark Cemetery. A memorial has been established in her memory for the First Brethren Church. Online condolences and memories can be shared with the family at www.schwarzfh.com.