EdaRae Connolly

EdaRae Connolly, loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt and friend passed away Tuesday December 1, 2020 at the age of 85. EdaRae was born on a bitter cold night, December 28, 1934 in Franklin, ID. She was the fourth child of eight born to Golden and Edythe (Hobbs) Atkinson. At the age of 5 the family moved to Boise where she attended local schools like Jefferson and graduated from Boise High School. She learned her work ethic by having a paper route at a very early age. During high school, she had the opportunity to work as a page in the Idaho Legislature. Mom often went by the nickname Ede. On September 5, 1958, she married her lifelong sweetheart Wally Connolly. Together they raised 3 children: Bruce Connolly, Cullen Connolly and Casey (Kelly) Donahue. Mom and dad loved the outdoors and were avid hunters of waterfowl, pheasants and big game. She was always willing to share a story or two of her hunting successes. Until recently, she was still shooting badgers off her front lawn. In 1966 the family moved from Boise to the homestead ranch in Eagle, ID where she remained until recently when she moved to her son, Cullen’s house in Eagle where he cared for her up until her death. Our mom had many adventures in her life. She worked for United Airlines for 20 years and loved to travel. Our parents greatly enjoyed to travel together and frequently did so until his death in 2008. After her years at United mom filled her time with being a homemaker, church work and serving as the office manager for the family construction company for 40+ years. She was a member of the LDS church her entire life and got so much joy and happiness from teaching her Sunday school classes, doing genealogy work and fulfilling her Temple calling and attending LDS Institute classes. Mom had a deep passion for the scriptures often infecting others with this love. One of the highlights of her life was going on a medical mission to Kenya with daughter, Casey, and grandson, Brennen. She was at the eyeglass station and found pure joy fitting the folks of Kenya with glasses. Mom also loved doing yard work, growing flowers, taking voice and piano lessons for years with Jen Black. Ede lived a full and complete life and was eagerly awaiting the reunion with her Savior and sweetheart, Wally. Ede is survived by her siblings: Barbara, Bill “Red”, Joy, Wally and Randy; children Bruce, Cullen and Casey; 9 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. She is proceeded in death by her parents, sisters: Conna and Doris; husband, Wally; grandson, Eric Connolly and granddaughter, Delaney Tabbutt. She will be laid to rest next to her husband of 50 years at Dry Creek Cemetery. Private family service will be held at 11:00 Tuesday December 8, 2020 at theChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center 2090 N. Eagle Rd, Eagle. Only immediate family will attend due to Covid precautions. Please join the family virtually, see the link below for the live stream. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Boise or Meridian Foodbanks. CLICK HERE TO VIEW LIVE STREAM