| EDITH MARIE FOSTER SCHOLEY |
| Edith Marie, daughter of Arther A. and Agnes Winterholer Foster, was born on August 23, 1908 in Jerome. She graduated form Prescott High School in 1926 and attended the University of Arizona receiving her Bachelor of Science in 1930 with a major in mathematics and a minor in geology, specializing in the geology of Northern Arizona. In spite of being a petite woman, Edith was the first woman to be on the University Rifle Team. After graduating from college, Edith traveled to Victoria, Hong Kong to meet her fiancˇ George T. Scholey, a mining engineer, who was working in the Philippine Islands at a mine called Balatok. The couple were married at Victoria on May 14, 1931 and lived at the mine for seven years. They were in headhunter country and Edith was once asked to photograph a headhunter murder scene in a ravine behind her house. Edith and George had three sons: George Arther, born June1, 1931, Frank Dennis, born April 10,1935 and Guy Erik born November 10,1937. The family moved to Manilla in 1937 when George went into business for himself and had to travel to various locations but when war began to loom Edith and the children returned to the safety of Seattle. George was commissioned by the Army to be in the forces in Luzon and was captured by the Japanese and held as a prisoner of war for three years. During that time Edith did not know if he was alive or dead. When he was finally reunited with his family in Seattle, George was very ill with malaria and scurvy and the family moved to Prescott where George recuperated. He eventually returned to the Philippines to reopens his mines and Edith remained in Prescott so that her sons would receive a good education. In addition to being a wife and mother Edith became a published writer in several magazines. One such article published in Sunset magazine introduced her friend George Phippen as an artist to the public outside of Prescott. Edith was a member and Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star, a Noble Grand of the Rebecca Auxiliary, served as a state president of the Arizona Association of University Women, a chairman and founder of Prescott Republican Woman and an avid stamp collector. She also helped plan field trips for college geology classes in northern Arizona and as a creative cook won many prizes for her original recipes. Edith died on January 12, 2000 and is buried in the Prescott Odd Fellows Cemetery. Donors: Tom & Becky Geiler May 2001 |
