Viva Lee B. Ed Obituary (1938 - 2020)

Viva Lee B. Ed March 29, 1938 - May 31, 2020 Viva Lee B. (McCarty) Ed of Livingston, Texas entered peacefully into eternal rest May 31, 2020 at her winter quarters at Escapees North Ranch, Congress, Arizona at the age of 82. Viva Lee is survived by her husband Robert C. Ed of Livingston; children Bryan R. (Julie) Ed of Waco, Texas; Susan B. (Stephen) Dowdy of Broomfield, Colorado; and Stuart C. Ed of El Paso, Texas; grandchildren Bryse N. Ed of Waco, Robert J. (Megan) Ed of Rowlett, Texas; Brenna L. Dowdy and Ian F. Dowdy of Broomfield; and Rebecca C. Ed and Nicholas C. Ed of El Paso. She is preceded in death by her parents Cletus E. and Ella C. (Christiansen) McCarty and her sister Carol Ann E. McCarty, all of Bradley, Illinois. Viva Lee was born on March 29, 1938 in Kankakee, Illinois to Cletus E. and Ella C. McCarty. She attended public schools in Bradley, graduating from Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School in 1956. She was an honor student and a leader in her schools, and served as a student teacher's aid throughout her public school years, sometimes teaching classes. She was active in the Girls' Athletic Association, Girl Scouts, the yearbook staff, and other activities. Following graduation from high school, she attended Marycrest Business College in Kankakee, and following graduation, was employed as head cashier at the Illinois Gas Company in Kankakee. Viva Lee married Robert C. Ed of Bourbonnais, Illinois on February 6, 1960 at Wesley Methodist Church in Bradley. The couple immediately launched into an Army career that lasted more than 27 years with service at numerous military bases in the continental United States, Hawaii, and Europe. Together they had three children, son Bryan Robert Ed born at Fort Gordon, Georgia, daughter Susan Bernice Ed born at Kankakee, and son Stuart Calhoun Ed born at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. When her husband was sent to Vietnam three times, Viva Lee returned to Bradley with the children to live near her parents and parents-in-law while her husband was overseas. The couple retired from active service in the Army in 1987, adopted the full-time recreational vehicle (RV) life style, and joined the Escapees RV Club in Livingston,Texas, and they have traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada in their RV. In 1995 they purchased a lot at Escapees North Ranch in Congress, Arizona where they enjoy Arizona winters for several months each year. The love of her children and grandchildren brought her, her greatest joy. In recent years her favorite past time was riding the ATV in the beautiful Arizona Sonoran Desert in the winter months and the mountain trails in southern Utah in the summers. Husband Robert plans to continue in the RV lifestyle. Viva Lee's cremains will eventually be interred in a National Cemetery to be determined at a later date.