You'll be here in our hearts, always.

Edge's Obituary. A life well lived. You will be missed!

Dr. David Edgerly

On July 19, 2011, the community suffered the acute loss of a beloved and celebrated husband, son, teacher, mentor, colleague, friend.

Dr. Dave Edgerly, Quincy University assistant professor of psychology, is well remembered for his foresight, compassion, and never-waning consideration for others, not to mention his sometimes shoeless, sometimes booted, often sneakered feet. His infectious laughter and ease with life both inspired and brought pleasure to many in the various worlds he inhabited, from California, to Idaho, to Illinois, whether he donned a hat or not. Through the various manifestations of the professions that he chose (or that chose him), early as a clinical psychologist and subsequently as a professor, and the interactions he had, from the merest to the dearest, his profound ability to connect with the minds and hearts of people was readily apparent, and continually admired and appreciated.

While practicing as a clinical psychologist in Boise, Idaho, Dave healed and encouraged, and the effects of that healing are ever present. His passion for teaching began while teaching at Boise Bible College and College of Idaho. After leaving Boise, Dave served as professor and faculty athletic representative at Quincy University, where he was unassuming and accessible, and therefore was regularly sought for his knowledge and insight through his often open door.

Dave received his bachelor of science degree in psychology from Northwest Nazarene College (1976), his master's degree in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary (1980) and his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Fuller Graduate School of Psychology (1984). While at Fuller, Dave was the honored first recipient of the John P. Davis Memorial Scholarship Award for being the most outstanding student in demonstrating commitment to the idea that what matters most in being a psychologist is who you are as a person.

As a teacher at QU and at Quincy Notre Dame High School, Dave strove to hold students' dreams until students could begin to not only imagine, but realize those dreams for themselves. His fierce dedication in doing so made him a genuinely cherished teacher, as was made evident by his being selected by the entire student body to be the recipient of QU's annual Excellence in Teaching Award (2006), as well as his being selected by the then-graduating student body as the keynote speaker at QU's 2009 commencement ceremony.

Dave was an exemplary human being first, which caused his many other gifts to follow naturally.

Dave is survived by those he treasured, his wife, Dr. Chelona Edgerly; his mother, Betty Edgerly, and the countless grateful recipients of his penetrating love and spirit. Dave's life was defined by his spiritual journey, and to know him was to accept an open invitation to sojourn to the center of your own human nature.

SWINKEY, MO

This post was written by a family friend, Sarah Quinn Deien. It was too good not to share with everyone :) I'm proud to say my Dad is the Deacon at this little country church. It really is a place like no other!

SWINKEY, MO -- “What is Swinkey?”

It’s a question I often get. Swinkey is not a “what” but a “where.” In fact, it’s barely a “where.”

Swinkey is a little church community a few miles outside Monroe City, Mo. on Highway 24. On the map (if it makes the map, and most times it doesn’t) it’s called Indian Creek. Everyone calls it Swinkey though, after one of its original settlers. I’m not sure of the current population, but the last “census” put the number of residents at 18. If you go to church at Swinkey, that makes you a Swinkian, which would push the population considerably higher.

I come from Swinkey. Anyone who does is proud to say it. Our biggest claim to fame is the Swinkey picnic, which we just celebrated. This is the oldest continuous picnic in the state of Missouri. For more than 150 years, people have traveled to Swinkey for a fried chicken meal. It’s just good old-fashioned fun, and for many kids, the event is bigger than Christmas. A visit to the picnic means the kids will come home with scads of trinkets they’ve won at games or got in a grab bag. These days, it’s a bunch of cheapo stuff ordered from Oriental Trading Company. If you’re looking for quality at the picnic, you’ll find it at the meal and the in company, not from the prizes. Swinkey is also gaining a reputation for its challenging fall corn maze.

Those of us who hail from Swinkey like to think there is no other place in the world quite like it. I’m biased, beyond a reasonable doubt. I guess, though, Swinkey is like other tiny little villages where life centers around the church and the neighbors. A casserole is the cure to anything that ails you, whether it’s a death in the family or child birth. Swinkey women who have babies can expect homemade, home-delivered meals for a month.

Though it seems like time stands still in Swinkey, it has in fact changed a lot, even since my childhood. Most of the women don’t get to stay at home to raise their children any more. Not many of the men can farm full time. The kids are raised on the internet, computer games and iPods. But, like so many other small communities, it’s the spirit that makes it home, even if it’s not a place on the map or a detour on the information superhighway. Swinkey is not a “what” or really even a “where.” Swinkey is a state of mind.

Take care~Sarah D.

Gone, but not forgotten.

Quincy U lost one of its greatest professors yesterday. You could always count on Dr. Edgerly’s smile, kind words and laughter if you spent any time at all in the Science building at Quincy. He was an avid supporter of the athletic teams and made sure everyone knew how they were doing. He also was very supportive of our trips to Haiti, and I knew I could always count on him to promote our cause. I will always remember the great lessons he taught me about life, the importance of my education, and the wonderful ways of good ol Qunicy U. You were a kind and wonderful person and you will truly be missed. You have changed my life and I am truly blessed to have known you. It was an honor to have been your student. My heart goes out to Chelona. He loved you dearly and I can’t think of a single day of class that he did not mention your name.

RIP Dr. Edgerly. Quincy was a better place because of you.