Donald Robert Edwards

February 14, 2014

Don died unexpectedly on February 14, 2014 at the age of 62. He collapsed while working in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit of Mercy San Juan Hospital and was immediately attended to by many colleagues. They tried desperately to save him but his situation was catastrophic and he could not be revived. Grieving his loss are his wife Judy, son Taylor, step son Tobias Williams, grandson Kaidyn Williams, daughter-in-law Brenda Brown, mother Phyllis Edwards (Don's father, Wally, preceded him in death), mother-in-law Helen Williams (Don's father-in-law, Ken, preceded him in death), sister Robin Maxey and husband Bill, sister Mary Orsak and husband Joe, brother-in-law Jeff Williams and wife Jayne, brother- in-law Kevin Williams and wife Ann. Nieces and nephews who brightened his life are Nikole, Ryan, Shannon, Shenna, Joshua, Elizabeth, and Hannah. Five little ones will miss him as well... Langston, Aurora, Vanessa, Talon, and Samara.

Don was born in Maryland and grew up in Orinda, Dallas, and Houston. He graduated Westchester High School in 1969 with his buddy Steve. He attended Texas A&M, graduating in 1975 with Wildlife Science and Biology degrees. He wanted to become a veterinarian and after college he landed a job in Anchorage, Alaska that combined his passion for the great outdoors with his compassion for animals. Don spent the following three years living above a veterinary clinic and attending animals at night while hiking, kayaking, and exploring the wilderness during the day. This experience gave Don his lifelong love for Alaska.

Adventure travel was Don's hallmark. In his late 20's he toured all of Europe, parts of the Middle East and much of northern Africa on a motor scooter. To stretch funds he lived on a Kibbutz in Israel for a time, picking grapefruit to earn his keep. After he and Judy married in 1989, Don had a new travel-mate with whom to explore the world.

Don and Judy saw most European countries, Caribbean Islands, Mexico, Peru, Australia, Alaska, Thailand, Canada and more... with return trips to several. Don's last adventure travel was a father-son trip to Vietnam with Taylor, a trip that convinced Don that Taylor had been bitten firmly by the 'travel bug'. Don was the planner and organizer of adventures for friends and family. Only once did he use a tour service. He loved scuba, kayaking and backpacking adventures. An annual three day, forty-mile kayaking trip on the Trinity River became a tradition. Don paddled the perimeter of Lake Tahoe more than once and he and Taylor biked the 'Wildflower Century' year after year. Judy and Taylor have great memories of many backpacking adventures into the Ansel Adams Wilderness. An excursion into Manu Park in the Amazon jungle was a once in a lifetime trip. He hiked 'The Narrows' in Zion Park multiple times. But Don was always ready to return to Alaska. Kayaking Glacier Bay or taking a float plane into remote Alaskan lakes to tough it out in primitive cabins or traveling to remote fishing lodges to catch all the salmon one could eat – now that was hard to beat.

As much as Don loved outdoor adventure and travel, he equally loved his work as a registered nurse. He worked 30 years, mostly in critical care, first at American River Hospital then at Mercy San Juan Hospital in the Trauma ICU. For many years he also held a second job as a Critical Care Transport nurse with AMR. Don took a dynamic approach to his role as a nurse. Although he loved to learn and study, achieving three Bachelor Degrees and a Master’s Degree, Don’s highest aspiration always was to provide the most expert, informed, and compassionate care to his patients and their families. As much as he loved learning he also loved sharing his knowledge by mentoring and teaching. But still, Don drew his greatest satisfaction from working hands on, side-by-side with his colleagues, with those most suffering – seriously ill and injured patients found in intensive care, in trauma, in the back of an ambulance. At home, Don displayed the same authenticity and loving commitment with his family as he did with his profession. For his son he modeled the way to manhood by instilling values in Taylor that will serve him his entire life: the importance of education and following through on personal goals no matter how daunting; thinking for oneself and the use of logic and reason; being self-motivated and finding value within; testing oneself in the natural world and loving the great outdoors. Starting at a young age Taylor’s horizons were regularly expanded through family travels and adventures purposefully planned by Don. In this way he gave Taylor the gift of knowledge that he can live and travel and accomplish anywhere in the world if he chooses.

Don and Judy’s country home in Newcastle California was a labor of love for the past twenty-five years – not only a healthy natural environment to raise a son but also a beautiful place to share with family and friends. From annual Easter egg hunts to weddings and memorials, the events held on Ralston Lane are too many to remember, but Don gave 100% to each one, meticulously preparing the grounds and house so that everyone attending could have the most enjoyable experience possible.

Whether building a home, raising a child, or sharing the same career in nursing, Don and Judy always did their best work together. In this year, their twenty-fifth year of marriage, they once again embarked on a great adventure – one filled with romance and promise. ‘Forest Kamp’, a cluster of vintage cabins hidden amongst towering redwoods on the Eel River was discovered, purchased, and restoration started. This was an especially happy time for Don and his entire family. Having spent childhood summers in this uniquely beautiful area, he longed to leave a similar legacy for his family. Don and Judy traveled to Forest Kamp at every opportunity to work on their new labor of love – excitedly talking about their plans the entire way – a five hour drive. Each trip was a honeymoon, not really work because they were doing what they loved, building something to last, side by side.

Don involved himself in every step of the restoration of Forest Kamp and took great joy in bringing the compound back to life. Recently he began replenishing the forest floor with native sword ferns, two to three at a time. To honor Don’s love of this project Judy and Taylor are creating a living memorial of ferns at Forest Kamp.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/citrus-heights-ca/donald-edwards-5861531