Obituary of Edrie Oster

Edrie Avis Oster, 103, of Hugo, Colorado passed away at her home of 74 years on December 31, 2014, with family at her side. Edrie was born on May 19, 1911 in Elkader, Kansas to Baptist minister James Perry and Laura May (Ware) Summers, the third of six children. As a child she would ride to school on horseback, then stop by the garden on her way home to eat tomatoes. Edrie attended many schools before graduating from Gove, Kansas in 1929 as state champion of knowledge. She met and married Omer W. Riley in Gove, Kansas on June 29, 1929. After her first marriage, the family moved around Kansas before settling in Boyero so Omer could work for the railroad. The couple had six children and later divorced. Edrie moved the homestead to Hugo in 1940 while raising her children, and met and married William J. Oster in 1945. When her children were grown, she also raised some of her grandchildren and a great-grandchild. She worked a variety of jobs before hiring on at the Hugo school as head cook. She remained there for 30 years. After she retired she took a job at Dell’s Restaurant, later known as Jean’s Family Kitchen, finally retiring again at the age of 90. She liked to say “I don’t have to go to work, I get to go to work.” Edrie was a huge Chicago Cubs fan. She once said, “If there’s no baseball in Heaven, then I’m not going.” She even attended spring training and met several of the Cubs’ players. She also loved to listen to George Strait. She was a wonderful cook and baked amazing pies and cinnamon rolls. She was also an accomplished seamstress, making clothes for her children and others in the community. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary Post #6612, serving the community of Hugo for many years. This family was truly blessed to have Edrie for their mother. Edrie was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands and two Children: James and Patsy. Edrie was also preceded in death by one sister, Leona; four brothers: Clair, Floran, Wilmer, and Cecil; four sons-in-law: Willie W. Alley, Ralph O. Zollinger, Everett Chaffin and Bob Noland; and four grandchildren. She is survived by her children: Jane Hoyt of Seguin, Texas; Donald W. (Joyce) Riley of Hugo, Colorado; Virginia Chaffin of Hugo, Colorado; and Maxine Zollinger of Hutchinson, Kansas. She is also survived by 28 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren, 48 great-great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-great grandchildren.