Edith Reid Houston-Deever, formerly of Jacksonville, FL and Mansfield, OH, died Saturday, November 28, 2015. One of five children, born June 11, 1915 to the late Cora Matson Reid and Peyton J. Reid in Elizabeth, WV. She spent her early years in Wert County until she was a teenager.

The family moved to the Mansfield, OH area where she finished high school and it was here that she met her future husband, Mark Everton Houston of Cleveland, who had moved to Mansfield during the Depression. They were married in 1937and married for nearly 34 years before he died in 1971. They had three children where they settled on the family farm while Mr. Houston worked for the Tappan Stove Company. During those years that she raised her family, she was known for her love of flowers and was a charter member of The Four Seasons Garden Club, representing the club at the well known Kingwood Center. In addition to her gardening, she was member of the Richland County Herb Society, a former trustee of Franklin Methodist Church and a member of Franklin Art Club.

During her widow years, she traveled to Hawaii, China, Japan, England and Scotland. In 1990, she reconnected with Hank Deever, a childhood friend from Ashland, OH, and they were married for seven years until his death. She continued to live in Jacksonville until she moved to Chesapeake, VA and Louisville, KY in 2003 to live with her two daughters for six month intervals. Eventually, five years ago she made Louisville her final home with her daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Ken Handmaker.

Her twilight years were spent doting on her nine grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and being a member of Christ Church United Methodist with her wonderful friends in the Pathfinders Class.

She will be remembered far and wide as Grandma Houston to her family and Edie to her friends and relatives. Even though she was 100 years young at her death, she had continued to spread her love with family and friends and especially with her great-grandchildren by attending school performances or sport games. Most notably, she was the family historian and storyteller providing everyone with tales of World War I, Woman's suffrage, The Great Depression, Presidents her uncle and aunt knew, or how to grow crops without spraying pesticides. She was a seamstress, being able to make anything one wanted, a great cook and an aspiring artist and baker. Her recipe for apple pie remains what the family considers the best on earth. She was devout in her faith, fearless with tribulations and strong in her convictions of right and wrong, especially never telling a lie. She will be remembered as the grandmother with a larger than life personality in a tiny frame, with a friendliness that never met a stranger. Her charm and love will be missed by all her family.

She is survived by her loving family, her son, Doug Houston's (who predeceased her in 2010) children, Mark Houston of Plantation, FL and his children, Annabella, Isabella and Johan; Stephanie Houston of Cambridge, MA; Ed Houston of Bluffton, SC and his daughter, Charlotte; and Mike Houston (Lisa) of Chagrin Falls, OH and their children, Fiona and Grant; Her daughter, Judy Handmaker (Ken) of Goshen, KY and her children, Elizabeth Noonan (Richard) of Lexington, KY and their children, Sarah Jewell and Reid (named after Grandma), James "Chip" Adams of Hopkinsville, KY and his children, Edie (named after Grandma), Kate and James Edward III; and her daughter, Margaret Adams of Louisville, KY; and her additional blended children, Tony Handmaker's (who predeceased her in 2011) son, Eli; John Handmaker (Trisha) of Louisville, KY and their children, Darrah and Case; and Rob Frank (Sarah) of Dayton, OH and their children, Gracie and Jeffrey; and her daughter, Elizabeth "Beth" Statzer (Wayne) of Chesapeake, VA and their children, Seth Statzer (Gabriella) of Spokane, WA and their children, Alison, Natalie and Mariana Elisabeth; and Drew Statzer (Beth) of Richmond, VA and their daughter, Logan Lynn. A celebration service honoring Grandma's life was held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 2, 2015 in the sanctuary of Christ Church United Methodist, 4614 Brownsboro Road, Louisville, KY 40207. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 5, 2015 at Olivesburg Methodist Church, 4748 St. Rt. 545, Ashland, Ohio. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Olivesburg, Ohio. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Christ Church United Methodist Church, 4614 Brownsboro Road, Louisville, Kentucky . Walker Funeral Home, 98 West Main Street, Norwalk, Ohio is in charge of arrangements. Send Condolences