Edmond Deryl Rea was the only child of Edmond Beryl Rea and Delma Rose Rea (McGuire) born on September 10, 1950, at 3:33 AM in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. The family moved frequently for Mr. Rea’s vocation in the oil industry, settling initially in Abilene, Texas then in Vincennes, Indiana for years where Edmond was active in Boy Scouts —Troop 111, earning the coveted Life Badge and the God and Country award. He also participated in the Native American dance troop that performed across the country for different tribes. Ed personally formed a significant relationship with Chief Ed Eagle who made him a war bonnet after living with the tribe for a summer. Ed was always respectful of his Native American lineage through his paternal Cherokee great-grandmother.

After graduating Vincennes Lincoln High School in 1968, the family moved to Deer Creek, Oklahoma where the paternal grandparents, aunts and uncles had settled for decades after moving west from Missouri in a covered wagon. With memories over the years of extended family weddings, funerals and backyard baseball games with cousins, the small Oklahoma town always seemed more like ‘home’.

Ed had a strong passion for the armed forces but was never medically cleared to join any branch due to a hearing loss. He then enrolled the fall semester of 1969 at Oklahoma State University to study Industrial Engineering and Drafting. There he met and married Angela Ruth Ward in 1970. The couple had one daughter, Melissa Angela Rea in May 1972. They divorced in March of 1973, but Ed continued his education graduating from Oklahoma State University School of Technical training, in September 1973. His first job brought him to Worldwide Construction in Wichita, Kansas, where he later married Jana Corinne Scholler in January 1975. Shawna Beth Rea was born in December of the same year and son Chad was born in 1980.

While the beginnings were lean, Ed often worked 3 jobs to support his growing family—gas station attendant, cleaning a barber shop, washing windows and mowing lawns. In 1977, Ed was licensed by the Disciples of Christ Church to serve as an itinerate preacher in Beaumont and Fall River Kansas, two small rural congregations. A lifetime learner, he loved the constant study —he felt a calling and was gifted. The family traveled from Wichita on Sunday mornings for two years to fill the pulpit. Later he served as a volunteer Chaplain to the Wichita Wranglers combining his love of the Bible and Baseball.

Bible, Baseball and Ballet occupied Ed’s spare time. A coach for years in Wichita brought father and son together for the sport and with lifelong friends who share those memories. In 1994, the family moved to Lawrence following Ed’s career; there he continued to coach, and enjoyed watching his son, grandson and granddaughter advance in skill and love of the game that brought him much joy.

Beginning as a draftsman, Ed advanced over the course of his 40-year career to include multiple disciplines-Civil/Structural, Mechanical, Nuclear with an emphasis on Petrochemical. Eventually he managed projects domestically and internationally.

While on assignment, Ed sustained a TIA in London in 2007. More strokes followed and by 2013, he was unable to work in his profession. In 2019, Ed moved back to Wichita for more oversight and support. Although Ed and Jana were divorced in 2017, their covenant was reaffirmed in 2023. He lived the rest of his life with Jana after a cancer diagnosis in 2022.

Ed’s name means the Cheerful One—mostly true of him—to the end. He departed on the morning of May 20, 2026, with a prayer on his lips surrounded by friends singing familiar hymns.

Edmond Rea is survived by Jana Corinne Rea, Melissa Angela Rea- daughter Shawna Beth Misek-daughter (Mark) Chad Edmond Rea-son (Renate), and 7 grandchildren: Hunter Rea, Georgia Rea, Gehrig Rea, Skylar Rea, Tristan Chapman, Zayne Chapman, and Desiree Davis.

A Graveside Service has been scheduled for 11:00 AM, Friday, May 29, 2026, in the Mt. Olive Cemetery, Nardin, Oklahoma, with Chaplain Greg Schmidt of Faith Hospice officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Edmond's honor may be made to the Heartland Community Church ℅ Roberts and Son Funeral Home.