Edith Rose Ricks

Edith Rose Nightingale was born September 30, 1933, in White Lake, South Dakota, to John Nightingale and Leola Haines Nightingale. Edith’s family moved to Oregon when she was 3 or 4 years old, and where she spent most of her life before passing away on March 22, 2024.

Edith grew up in Stayton, where she attended Grade School and High School, making many lifelong friends.

Edith married Joe Ricks in 1949 and they had six children: Joey, Joan, Cheryl, twins Linda and Laurie, and Leslie. The children kept Edith busy all through their young lives, and when they were a little older, she went to work for Portland Public Schools, working in the cafeteria at Adams High School as a baker. The kids loved her and called her the cookie lady because her cookies were so delicious. Edith eventually transferred to the district’s central kitchen where she worked as lead assistant in the bakery department until her retirement on February 29, 1996.

Edith enjoyed her retirement years. She took many trips with family and friends, to places near and far. Among some of her most memorable were Yellowstone, Wyoming and the Dakotas, Canada, the Olympic Peninsula, Disneyland, and even several trips to Hawaii. Frequent trips to the Oregon Coast were enjoyed also! Edith hosted many family gatherings over the years, and made untold amounts of potato salad, homemade ice-cream, and apple pies that no one else can make quite so well.

Edith’s greatest joy was her family, and she leaves behind all of her children, many Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren who will miss her very much and carry loving memories of her in their hearts.