Joan Cavaness (Graves) Edwards Fleener

Joan Cavaness (Graves) Edwards, 95, of Anna, passed away on Friday, December 20, 2024 at The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. 

She was born on September 3, 1929, in Mounds, the daughter of Joe M. and Lena Mae (Cavaness) Graves. She lived in Southern Illinois all her life, moving to Anna at age 2.

Joan worked at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna as an LPN Administrative and worked as a Dietary and Purchasing Agent for Head Start. 

She was a member of Mount Moriah Lutheran Church in Anna. 

She was a community servant of the highest caliber and her proudest achievement was having the Heliport at the Union County Hospital in Anna named after her due to her efforts in securing it for Union County as a Hospital Board Member for 25 years and was always an outspoken advocate of Union County. 

She was a member of several organizations, such as the Daughters of the Union Veterans, the Masonic Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem, where she held the honor of Past Worthy High Priestess, a Kentucky Colonel of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, a commission of distinction that can only be given by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and most of all, she will always be remembered by many, as the Red Hat Society, Queen-Mom.

Survivors include her sons, Quinn Edwards and Jason Edwards; daughters-in-law Holly Wohlwend and Katie Edwards; stepdaughter Mary Lenigk; five grandchildren, Savannah Edwards, Kamryn Glasco, Joseph (Meghan) Wohlwend, Elizabeth (Dominic) Pietoso and Brynn Edwards; and four great-grandchildren. 

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Major Louis Joe Wohlwend; granddaughter Jackie Edwards; and one great-grandson.

Funeral services were at 1 p.m. Monday, December 23, at Crain Funeral Home in Anna-Jonesboro, with eulogy by family and friends. Interment followed the service at Anna City Cemetery.

To view the obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.crainsonline.com.

Crain Funeral Home in Anna-Jonesboro was in charge of arrangements.