Edward Maurice Stanley

Ed Stanley, a proud veteran of both the United States Navy and Air Force, beloved husband, cherished family member, loyal friend, and above all, a devoted servant of God, went to his heavenly home on September 2, 2025. He is survived by his loving wife, Laura Stanley, brother, Gene Stanley, daughter by choice, Rebecca Crass (Shaun), "adopted sisters," Jeanne Miller (Darryl) and Bonnie Matthies (Bill), and numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his mother, Marguerite (Wood) Stanley, his father, Maurice Stanley, his sister, Sandra Rogers, and sister-in-law, Melissa Williams (Randy). Born on June 9, 1943, in Little Rock, Arkansas, Ed grew up in Levy, Arkansas, before volunteering to serve his country at the young age of 17. His service began in the U.S. Navy, where he courageously completed three tours in Vietnam as a medic assigned to the Marine Corps. After his time with the Marines, he continued his service in the Arkansas, Nevada, and Missouri Air National Guard, where he rose to the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. His military journey took him from Arkansas to Nevada and eventually to Lambert Field in St. Louis, Missouri. It was there he met the love of his life, Laura, who was working as a state employee on the base. Their love story would span nearly 40 beautiful years of marriage. Ed was a man of many talents and interests, and his career path was anything but ordinary-race car driver, deputy sheriff, casino worker, bus driver-the list goes on. Ed tackled everything he did with determination and heart. Life with Ed was never dull, and those who knew him knew he could never sit still for more than a minute. Ed found great joy in the simple pleasures of life-especially fishing. Crappie fishing with Laura was his favorite pastime, and together they spent countless peaceful hours on the lake. He was also a dedicated fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks and the St. Louis Cardinals, cheering them on with unmatched enthusiasm. Known far and wide for his incredible cooking, Ed's cheese enchiladas were nothing short of legendary. At home, you could often find him at the kitchen or dining room table-beating the pants off everyone at Skip-Bo, Pinochle, or Dominoes-or watching a classic John Wayne movie, his go-to pick every time. He had a love for travel and was always the master planner, organizing trips and events, usually at least a year in advance. But above all, Ed would tell you the most important day of his life was in April 1972-the day he came to know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. From that moment on, his life became a mission of service. Whether it was on medical missions, youth retreats, church events, or behind the scenes loading equipment and cooking meals, Ed served joyfully and tirelessly. He particularly loved serving the youth of his church, knowing they were the future leaders of the faith. He was a deacon, a mentor, a helper, and a friend to all. If you needed anything-anything at all-you could count on Ed. He never met a stranger and left a lasting impression everywhere he went. Second only to his love for Christ was Ed's love for his family. He was a devoted husband, a loving son and brother, a treasured uncle, great-uncle, and great-great-uncle, brother-in-law and a father by choice. His presence was a gift-steady, kind, generous, and full of love. Ed loved deeply and was deeply loved in return. His life was a living testament to faith, service, and love. Though our hearts are heavy, we celebrate a life incredibly well-lived and those of us in a relationship with Jesus Christ can take comfort in knowing that we will see Ed again one day. Until then, we carry his memory in our hearts, always. Visitation will be held from 4:00PM - 8:00PM on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at First Baptist Church in Fenton, Missouri. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00AM on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, also at First Baptist Church with burial to follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to USO.org, WoundedWarriorProject.org, or GSLHonorFlight.org.

Edward Maurice Stanley

June 9, 1943 - September 2, 2025