Edgar 'Eddy' M. Williams

Eddy was one of five children born to Edgar M. Sr. and Udella Williams on Feb. 27, 1925, in Price, Utah. Eddy received all the musical talents that both parents possessed and spent most of his childhood years practicing his beloved trumpet, while his father taught band and private music lessons.

Eddy served in both the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force as a member of the 9th Service Command Band in Salt Lake City and Fort Wright Air Force Band in Spokane. Eddy attended the University of Idaho from 1946 to 1950, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in music education and met his first wife, Betty Mae Callihan. Eddy and Betty had two sons, Mike and Gary. Later in life, Eddy married Arlene Beavert Colegrove and helped to raise her son, Terry Colegrove.

Eddy was a devoted band director for 34 years, including teaching music in Genesee, Burbank, Wash., Clarkston, Reno, Nev., Ilwaco, Wash., and, of course, 20 years here in Lewiston. On two different occasions, Eddy took his marching bands of 200-plus kids (and 50 chaperones) to presidential inaugural parades (for Richard M. Nixon in 1973 and Jimmy Carter in 1977). In 1974, Eddy took his jazz band to tour and play in six countries in Europe. Eddy received many musical accolades, including the Governor's Award for Excellence and the Idaho Music Educators Hall of Fame.

Eddy loved playing his trumpet in a jazz combo with his son, Gary, on drums at many dance jobs throughout the valley. He enjoyed fishing and camping. In his later years, he went to Waffles 'N' More for "coffee with the boys" every morning, and he was an avid Gonzaga Bulldogs basketball fan.

Eddy was preceded in death by two older sisters, Phyllis Owen and Neva Lindsey; and his first and second wives, Betty and Arlene Williams.

He is survived by his older sister, Wanda Gaz, and younger brother, Don (with wife LaJuana) Williams, all of Salt Lake City; sons Mike (with wife Vargie) of Marion, Mont., and Gary (with wife Ann) of Lewiston; and stepson Terry Colegrove (with wife Jody) of Genesee; five grandchildren, Matt (with wife Wendy) and Ambrosia Williams, Tara Colegrove, and Jeff and Tim (and his wife Stephanie) Howard; and numerous nieces and nephews, including Joan (with husband Allen) Erickson of Lewiston.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home, with burial to follow at the Normal Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Lewiston School District music program in Eddy's name at Independent School District No. 1, 3317 12th St., Lewiston.

Eddy will be deeply missed, but one thing we are sure of, heaven will be a much jazzier place from here on in.