Edward ‘Edd’ L. Meier

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(Feb. 10, 1944 - Sept. 5, 2014)

Edward L. Meier, 70, known always as Edd, died in Billings, Mont., Sept. 5, 2014, of an extremely rare disease that attacks the body’s muscles and which affects only six people in a million: Inclusion Body Myositis.

Though not feeling well since March after receiving heart stents, his disease wasn’t diagnosed until Edd finally went to the University of Utah Medical Center on Aug. 15. While normally a slow-moving disease, Edd’s was the exception, leaving many stunned by his passing.

Edd was born in Lovell, Feb. 10, 1944, to Harold and Elsie Meier. He grew up on the family farm in Kane, Wyo., graduating from Lovell High School. He was a master mechanic who not only could fix anything but could also tell people how to fix things in a way they clearly understood. One of his proudest accomplishments was teaching a totally deaf young man how to become a master mechanic, no small feat since he knew no sign language.

Though retired, until shortly before he died farmers were calling him to ask how to fix machinery or were having him “stop by” to show them. Living in the Powell area, he worked first for John Deere, then for T&E Caterpillar out of Billings as the Wyoming Field Mechanic.

Lured by the Arizona weather after a visit to family in Tucson, Edd then became the shop foreman for Empire Caterpillar in Tucson, Ariz., retiring in 2012 and moving back to Cowley to be near children and grandchildren. With the same meticulousness to detail that he applied to being a mechanic, he soon, with Zo helping, had a lovely home with beautiful landscaping outside of Cowley near the high school. Being very industrious, besides advising and helping farmers and creating a lovely home of his own, he also found time to help his children with projects such as extra bathrooms and other things.

In 1976, Edd married Zo, each bringing four children to the union and creating a family of eight. While he loved his work, the joy of his life was doing things with his family. He particularly loved camping, fishing, boating, snowmobiling and riding the Razor with his family. He would even make getting wood fun for his children. One of his greatest joys was getting his family together for holidays, making them very special.

Edd is survived by four siblings: Dolly Dewing, Adelle (John) Lewis, Gary (Elanore) Meier and Donny (Lynn) Meier. His surviving children include Steve (Cindy) Meier, Shannon (Maggie) Meier, Randy Meier, Christy (Steve) Banks, Steven (Meadow) Scheeler, Debora (Brent) Hibbert and Todd (Julie) Scheeler. There are 24 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Edd was preceded in death by his parents; a brother-in-law, Dick Dewing; a brother, Eugene, who drowned at age 2; a son, Darren, who died at age 2 days; and a daughter, Toreasa, who died at age 10 after complications from a kidney transplant.

Funeral services for Edd Meier will be held on Friday, Sept. 12, at 10 a.m. in the Cowley LDS Church on Main Street in Cowley. Interment will be in the Lovell Cemetery.

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