Mr. William Merida Edwards, Jr., 93, of Frederick, died on December 30, 2012 at Golden Living Center, Frederick. He was the husband of H. Jane (Flythe) Edwards. Born on July 3, 1919, in Corbin, Kentucky, he was the son of the late William Masters Edwards and Viola Mae Combs. The family moved to Harlan County, Kentucky where his brother, Robert, and sister, Mary Ann, were born. They lived in Harlan County until the family moved to Washington, DC in 1929. Bill attended Jefferson Junior High School and McKinley Technical High School, both in Washington, DC. After high school, he worked for Briggs Meat Company, delivering hot dogs, dog food and hamburger throughout Southern Maryland and Montgomery. Bill served aboard the USS Montcalm as a gunner's mate until his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1945. He married the former Laura N. Oakley of Nashville, Tennessee in April 1945 and moved to Maryland where they made their home and joyously welcomed a daughter, Terri Sue, in March 1952. His government career encompassed 33 years at the Washington Navy Yard and Indian Head Propellant Plant as an ordinance inspector until his retirement in 1974. Bill joined the Masonic Lodge in March 1946 and had been a working and faithful member for over 60 years, serving as Worshipful Master and Instructor of Washington Centennial Lodge #14 FAAM, which subsequently merged with Washington Daylight Lodge #14 FAAM. He was a member of the Scottish Rite where he proudly worked his way up and received the coveted 33 degree. His love of Masonry did not end there; he also joined the York Rite and was a Shriner. In 1980 he joined the Order of the Eastern Star and served as Worthy Patron of Federal Chapter #38 OES in 1989 and 1990. After the death of his wife, he met and married H. Jane Liverman in May 1993 and moved to Leisure World in Montgomery County. Six years later, he and his "Lady Jane" moved to Crestwood Village in Frederick, Maryland. In July 2010, it became necessary for Bill to become a resident of Golden Living Center in Frederick, Maryland where he was lovingly cared for until his death on December 30, 2012. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister, granddaughter, Amanda Leigh Mercer, wife, Laura, his son-in-law, David Ray Mercer. He is survived by and will be deeply missed by his wife, H. Jane Edwards; daughters, Terri Sue Mercer and Patricia (Gary) Brooks and their daughter, Ashley and her fiancé David Ford; sons, Paul (Pam) Liverman and their children, Kristin and Eric, Joseph (Katie) Liverman and their children, Taylor, Kailey, Courtney and Addie, and many nieces, nephews and friends. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 8 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM at Keeney and Basford PA Funeral Home, 106 East Church Street, Frederick. Funeral Services will be held following the visitation at 2:00 PM in the Etchison Memorial Chapel of the Funeral Home. Interment will be private in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suitland.
