Lorraine Yourczek Edgemon

Lorraine Yourczek Edgemon October 8, 1922 March 24, 2012 Lorraine Yourczek Edgemon passed away Saturday, March 24, 2012. Services will be 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 27 at St. Catherine's Chapel. A private burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. prior to the service at St. Catherine's Community Room. Born Oct. 8, 1922, in Little Falls, MN, Lorraine was the youngest daughter of eight children born to her Polish immigrant parents, Lucille Treadle and Martin Yourczek. She grew up on a farm in Sobieski, MN, and hated walking to school in the hard Minnesota winters. Upon graduating from Little Falls High School in 1940, she first moved to the big city of St. Paul and then on to exciting San Francisco. She held a variety of office jobs and enjoyed going dancing at the Officers Club at the Presidio Naval Base. That's where she met Dewey Lloyd Edgemon, who was soon to be discharged from the Navy and was moving to Waco. He proposed, so off Lorraine went to join him in Texas. Soon after getting married, she became a mother to Laurie followed by Linda three years later. Lorraine was an active stay-at-home mom, always signing up for Room Mother or hauling her kids to this lesson or that. She didn't even know how to drive until her late 30's, but having kids finally made her learn. As her daughters got older, Lorraine took a job at the new Baskin-Robbins ice cream store that had just opened up. Armed with her cake decorating class certificate from the nearby Montgomery Ward, she was ready to embark on her new career. Over the years she worked with countless young crew members, went through multiple store owners and built incredible arm muscles from all her ice cream scooping. She might not have always remembered her regular customers' names but she did know their favorite flavors whether at the grocery store or out at a restaurant, Lorraine would greet you with, "Hi there, double scoop of Rocky Road" or maybe you were "Mr. Vanilla Malt." Finally after 30+ years, she turned in her scooper. Lorraine became a widow at just 55 when her husband Dewey passed away after a long battle with cancer. She was never interested in dating or marrying again and came to love her simple, independent life. She enjoyed working in her garden and playing a mean hand of bridge with her friends at the Harrison Center. And, of course, there were grandkids to come. Laurie, living in Waco, had a son, Neill, and a daughter, Carolyn. It was then "MeeMaw's" job to help make school lunches and get them to after-school activities a job she thoroughly enjoyed. Linda was living in Dallas with her husband Don and daughter Emmie so Lorraine would take the Waco Streak for visits there. As old age crept in, so did a constant pain in Lorraine's hip. Finally, with much trepidation she decided to have hip replacement surgery in 2003. It was following that surgery that she suffered a massive stroke that left her unable to walk or talk. Lorraine's optimistic spirit took over, and she decided to make the most of what she still had left. Although her new permanent residence was the 4th floor of St. Catherine's, her family often brought her to her home where she enjoyed spending time in her backyard and sharing holidays with them. Lorraine still found joy in her days and became a favorite of the many wonderful nurses and attendants who lovingly took care of her. Although her family will miss her so, they will remember the many lessons she taught them and exemplified through her lifechildren deserve unconditional love, do not judge others, believe in the good in people and the motto she lived by expect the best, prepare for the worst, and take whatever you get with a grin. Lorraine is survived by her daughter Laurie Goss, her grandson Neill, granddaughter Carolyn and her husband, Sam Harper. Also, daughter Linda Roy, son-in-law Don and granddaughter Emmie. We love you Mama, always and forever. If you would like to do something to honor Lorraine's life, please consider a donation to St. Catherine Center 4th floor Activity Fund, 1700 Providence Dr. Waco, TX 76707 Attn: Diane Dixon. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey