Deborah "Debi" Herink Edwards

Deborah (Debi) Herink Edwards, age 58, of St. Petersburg, FL, died unexpectedly on Sun., Dec. 22, 2013 of a respiratory illness. Debi was born on Sept. 16, 1955, to Charles and Marie Herink of Toledo, IA. The family moved to Gladbrook, IA where she attended elementary, graduated high school in 1973, and then went to Univ. of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls where she received her B.A. in English and Spanish in 1977. She married Roy Edwards on Dec. 30, 1978 in Grand Island, NB. The couple had two daughters, Brooke Emily and Megan Kay. In 1988 the family moved to Florida where Debi became employed as Registrar at ELS Language Center at Eckerd College campus where she worked for 24 years. Debi hosted many international students in her home during those years. Debi is survived by her two daughters, Brooke (Ted) Eversoll and Megan (Alex) Wilson both of St. Petersburg and her granddaughter Kaley Alexis Wilson; two sisters, Jan Grossnickle of Liberty, NC, and Donna (Tom) Kehoe of Lincoln, IA; two brothers, Larry (Vickie) Herink of Lincoln, IA and Robert (Kathy) Herink of Gladbrook, IA; five nephews and six nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents and a nephew Joshua Grossnickle. Debi enjoyed gardening, especially her backyard orchids, nature photography, volunteering at Egmont Key bird sanctuary, writing poetry and journaling, playing word games with her friends, traveling, and viewing sunsets at the beach. A celebration of Debi's life will be held on Jan. 4, 2014 from 2 p.m. until sunset at Fort DeSoto Park - PAVILION #1 on Jan. 4th. Please contact Anderson McQueen Funeral Home at (727)-822-2059 for information on sending flowers. The family requests that memorials be made in Debi's memory to the National Kidney Foundation (kidney.org).