Wow, what a life! One of the most loved persons in Yerington, Edna Chism went to meet the Lord she served so well for so many years on February 7, 2012 after a short illness.
She was born the seventh of eight kids February 17th, 1922 in Claremont, California, to Alexander and Effie Moore.
She graduated from high school in Placentia, CA in 1940. Soon after, Edna met Gene Chism after he had picked up a hitchhiker named Herschel Moore who insisted Gene come home with him. There he met Herschel's little sister, Edna. The two fell in love and were married March 15, 1942, while Gene was employed by Union Pacific Railroad. The Chisms wasted no time starting their family, and with two little boys, Duane and Steve in tow, the Gene accepted the pastorate of a church in 1951 in Hawthorne, NV, where Tom and Jeanie were born, and where they all lived until 1956. Expecting their last child, they made the move back to Riverside, CA, where David was born in 1957. Later that year the family moved to Alturas, then to Modesto in 1964, and then finally to Yerington in 1966. Gene and Edna accepted the pastorate of First Baptist Church (now Yerington Vineyard), a church he and Edna had pioneered as a mission while in Hawthorne in the early 50's. It was here that Gene and Edna invested the rest of their lives, and would always consider themselves native Nevadans.
After Gene's passing in January, 1996, Edna simply backed up and reloaded. In the years since then, Edna beat cancer as well as other numerous health challenges, traveled to Latin America ten times on mercy mission trips to orphanages, and even got a job with the Foster Grandparent Program at YES where she worked until her recent illness. She did all that after age 74. 'Grandma Edna', as she has been known to many hundreds of students and teachers, has become a fixture in the reading program, and is deeply missed by the entire staff, as well as by her church family who honors her as its matriarch. She served her church as a deaconess, as well as everyone's mentor and grandma, until the very end. She was a superb pastor's wife, mother and grandmother.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene, and son Leslie. She is survived by her sons Duane (May), Steve (Kathy), Tom (Lynda), daughter Jeanie (Bob) and son David (Kelli), 22 grandchildren including spouses, and 15 great-grandchildren.
Edna, quite simply, was the real deal--the hands and feet of Jesus.

Edna's Funeral service will be held at Yerington Vineyard, on Saturday, February 11th at 2:00 pm. Burial will be next to her husband at Valley View Cemetery. Following the interment, a potluck reception will follow at the Yerington Elementary Multipurpose Room.

The family would like to extend special thanks for the phenomenal care given our mom from Saint Mary's oncology staff.

Family and Friends are invited to sign her online guest book at www.FRFH.net, sympathy cards may be sent to the family from this site.

Arrangements are under the direction of Freitas Rupracht Funeral Home 25 Hwy 208 Yerington (775) 463-2911.