Edra, Eddie Jean, Aunt Eddie, Edie, Mom and Nannie. She was known by several names and loved them all.
Edra Jean Leist was born October 12, 1928, in Vincennes Indiana to George and Edra (Busse) Leist. She grew up in Columbus Indiana and graduated from Columbus North High School in 1946.
She married her high school sweetheart Rex Alvis on March 14th 1948 in Columbus. They later moved to Shelbyville in 1958 making their home there for 40 years. Rex preceded her in death on November 25, 1997.
Along with her parents she was preceded in death by her sister, George-Anna (Leist) VanMeter of San Antonio, Texas.
After moving to Naples Florida, she reconnected with her former high school classmate and friend, Donald L. Scheidt, of Beverly Hills Michigan. They were married on October 12, 2002 in Michigan. They truly had a wonderful time together traveling and making each other laugh until Don’s death on September 21, 2011.
Edra had been a homemaker while her children were young, then worked at First Baptist Church, Major School and The Shelbyville Foot Clinic. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church Shelbyville. She was a devout Christian and patriotic American. Edra was a very creative person, oil painting, crocheting, sewing, and making general crafts and spent her last few years assembling & painting buildings for her son Greg’s railroad set layout. At age 93 she also entered a project in the Shelby County Fair. Until her death she still held her desire to keep learning and doing. Her longevity can also be attributed to her ability to make the best of the situation and accept things with a positive attitude. Her grandchildren and great granddaughters all adored their Nannie.
Edra is survived by her children Rev. Gregory Alvis (Kim) of Monticello IL and Gina (Rolly) Bishop of Shelbyville.
Grandchildren, Alison (Murphy) Fisher (Brian Steuerwald) Fishers, IN, Kayla (James Allison) Alvis of Columbus, OH, Jacob (Jamie Holliday) Alvis of Littleton, Colorado and Danielle Alvis of Seattle, Washington along with great-granddaughters Stella and Edie Fisher of Fishers IN.
She is also survived by the Scheidt family members, children: Rick (Kay), Steve (Rosemary), Bob Scheidt and Sandy (Stephen) Birge. Grandchildren, AJ (Therese), Chris (Emily), Giavanna and Thomas Scheidt, Sarah (Tim) Zietlow, Emelia (Alex) Harris, Kevin and Laura Birge. Great-grandchildren: Brady, Logan, Aidan, Abigail, Hudson and Maggie Scheidt, Scarlett, Jade and Lilly Zietlow, Elliot and Camille Harris.
Edra leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews and long time family friend Gloria Nash. The family would also like to thank the staff at McKay Manor for all of their care and support in making her feel at home there where she met a new and cherished friend Joan Calkins.
Visitation will be from Noon to 2 p.m. Friday, June 9, 2023, at the First United Methodist Church, 34 W. Washington St. in Shelbyville.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, at the church.
Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville.
Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church or the Shelbyville-Shelby County Public Library, 57 W. Broadway St., Shelbyville, Indiana.
Online condolences may be shared with Edra’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
