Edward Joseph Egers

Edward Joseph Egers

Edward Joseph “ Cookie” Egers, 87, of Fort Pierce, passed away peacefully at his home on September 12, 2014.

Edward was born on March 13, 1927 in Biloxi, Mississippi and moved to Fort Pierce in 1946 after completing boot camp in Alameda, CA. He was the son of Henry Edward Egers and Nina A. Gautreaux. He was a graduate of Biloxi High School in Biloxi, Mississippi. He was assigned to 7th Coast Guard District in Biscayne Bay on Dinner Key, Miami, Florida and shortly afterwards, received orders to report to U.S Coast Guard in Fort Pierce, FL, where he met the love of his life, Lanette Eldred Slay.

Edward is survived by wife of 67 years, Lanette Slay Egers. He is also survived by their eleven children, 3 sons: David Egers and wife Carol, Edward Egers and companion Maureen, and Patrick Egers; and 8 daughters: Pam Watts and husband Raleigh, Nancy Juengling and husband Hans, Janice Addison and husband James, Marguerite Radebaugh and husband Chip, Tammy Vargesko and husband Dave, Shirley Monterosso and husband Ron, Betty Stephens and husband Randall, Maria Lassiter and husband Lee. Edward’s children gave him 22 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Shirley Egers Elzey, and Henrietta Egers Foley.

Edward loved his family and church very much, and was just as passionate about the many varieties of tropical orchids which he cultivated for decades. He was a parishioner at St. Anastasia Catholic Church, and a long-time member of the American Orchid Society, Fort Pierce Chapter. After retiring from Sears Roebuck Company, where he was an Appliance Technician for twenty-five years, in his spare time, Edward could be found in the back room of his house, building wooden ships. He was also very dedicated and devoted to volunteer work. Edward’s favorite place to volunteer was the Heathcote Botanical Gardens, of which he was a founding member.

Memorial Contributions may be made in Edward Egers’ name to Treasure Coast Hospice or the Fort Pierce Orchid Society, in lieu of flowers