Edith I. Wilson, 101, of Holton, died Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at Medicalodges Jackson County nursing home in Holton. 

She was born December 20, 1913 at Blaine, the daughter of Jesse and Nellie Hamilton Thornton.  Her family moved to Soldier when she was very young. She was raised at Soldier and moved to Holton in 1942.  She has lived at that home ever since.

Edith married Wilmer "Hack" Wilson.  They were divorced.  In 1948 she and Hack started a trash service, and in the early 1950's they ran a laundromat together.  She also helped him with several tavern businesses, worked at the Gilkerson Potato Chip Factory, and for thirty-nine years did free-style quilting from her home.

Edith ran for city commissioner in the 1980's and volunteered at the Jackson County Training Center in the 1990's.  She loved gardening and raised a lot of African Violets.

She was preceded in death by a son, Wilbur Wilson and his wife Cathy, a son-in-law, Jerry Horr, a brother, Charles Thornton and his wife Luella, a half-sister, Pearl Pool, a granddaughter, Terry Stewart and three great grandchildren.. 

Survivors include a son, Willy Wilson and wife Diana, Holton; two daughters, Anita Eby and husband, Gene, Mayetta and Rowena Horr, Topeka; a childhood friend, June Houck, Princeton, MO; twenty-five grandchildren, fifty-five great-grandchildren and twenty-five great-great-grandchildren.

Cremation is planned.  Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 28th at the Soldier Cemetery.  Memorials are suggested to Developmental Services of Jackson County or Heart of Jackson Humane Society, and may be sent in care of Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1034, Holton, 66436. On-line condolences may be made at chapeloaksfuneralhome.com