Date of Death: May 24, 2019
Service Details
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, June 1, 2019 at Bethel Baptist Church in Three Rivers, MI. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the funeral service will follow at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be held at Riverside Cemetery of Three Rivers following the service.
Obituary Notice
Edna Mae McMaster affectionately known as “Petie” went home to be with the Lord on Friday, May 24, 2019 at Heartland Healthcare in Three Rivers, Michigan.
Edna was born on August 16, 1933 in Sturgis, Michigan. She was the 3rd child born to Joe Harris and Olive Gertrude (Davison) Perkins. She deeply loved all her siblings and shared with them an unbreakable bond. God blessed her with amazing siblings William (Hazel) Pannell, Beverly Yates, Olive (Melvin) Banks, Sara Hennings, Marianne Perkins and was proceeded in death by her brothers Glair Lynn, Richard Perkins, David Perkins, Sr. and brother-in-law LeRoy Yates, Sr.
Edna was baptized at the young age of 13 and although she faced many adversities in life, she was a strong believer and follower of Christ until her final day. In 1951 she graduated from Sturgis High School and went on to attend Parsons Business College. Somewhere along life’s path Edna met Stephen LeRoy McMaster and on June 4, 1954 they joined in holy matrimony. To this union was born two daughters and a son. Linda Diane Robinson (Three Rivers, MI), Stephen (Kathy) McMaster, Jr. (Smyrna, TN), and Judith Ann Searcy (Three Rivers, MI). Edna was a loving mother and she remained a devoted wife until Stephen’s passing in 2012.
For 23 years Edna served the Three Rivers Public School system as secretary at Barrows Elementary School. Throughout her years of service “Mrs. McMaster” touched countless young lives with her selfless kindness and love of children. Her work with the We Care and TRAM (Three Rivers Area Mentoring) programs helped change and influence many young minds.
When Edna took a rare moment for herself, she traveled the country with the Freewill Ladies and she often traveled with her sisters to various Baptist conventions. She loved to knit, crochet and do ceramics. She cherished her family and was an active force in her kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews’ lives. She attended games, graduations, gave amazing hugs and always wrote the very best letters.
She leaves to cherish her memory her siblings, children and grandchildren; Kishon Norwood, LaShanda Robinson, Clara Robinson, Stephen McMaster, III, and Constance Searcy. Great-grandchildren; DeQuan, Courtney, Nicole, Parrish, Makiyah, Peter, Rayhiem, Iyanna, Carl, Kareem, Kyla, Juleyonna and Kevin. Great-great grandchildren; Kourtni and Mason. Godsons’; Gary Moore and Timothy McNary. Special friends; Pam (Mike) Bump, Judy Maze, Ethel Travis and more nieces, nephews and friends than one can name.
Additional Information
Memorials made in Edna’s memory may be directed to the family c/o Judith Searcy. Envelopes will be available at the church and Hohner Funeral Home.
Please Leave Your Condolences
When your condolences are submitted they will not display until approved by the Hohner staff for appropriateness out of respect for their memory. They should appear within 24 hours or less. Thank you for your understanding
I just learned of your passing. Although we have not talked in years, your memory as a loving nurturer of children will never be forgotten. Discipline is a precious gift. I am thankful for our time together at Barrows. Tom Barnum
I remember Edna always smiling and on the verge of laughing. What a joy to know.
Kris Ayers
Deepest Sympathy
Praying for you
My dearest friends you have always been a part of me from day one Judy was my best friend then I met her family we became close we had good times and bad we shared lot of thoughts and dreams your mother always told me to look forward not backwards I just want to Thank Her for being Her she will be miss love you all and Praying for comfort and Healing In Jesus Name
Ward
To Steve, I am so sad to hear of your Mother’s death and will keep all your family in my prayers. I met your Mother when you boys started Middle School, and we became friends. We sat together at basketball games and talked about our sons! We were both so proud of you boys. And I was so pleased to have a friend to sit with. Happy memories. Stop and say hello when you are in Three Rivers. Sincerely, Marlene Roberts, Matt;s Mother.
The Perkins family is very special to me, and I send my hugs, prayers and love to all of you as you grieve for Petie. I know how much you will all miss her. You have a beautiful, special sibling bond in your family I know and your strong faith promises you that you will see Petie again….
Sincerest condolences on the loss of a beautiful sister. May God bless you as you celebrate her memory.
Petie McMaster’s was well loved by the Haines family of Sturgis for many years. On behalf of my family I would like to extend our condolences. My mother, Helen Haines, was a very good friend of Petie and would visited her often and when I was in town I would go with her. She was a very kind and caring person. I still have the letter she wrote to our family when my Mom died. Her words gave me the courage to continue on. I just wanted you, the family, to know how much we loved her and hope that my words give some comfort.
Years ago I worked at Sears in downtown TR with Edna when I was fresh out of high school. She was one of my favorite ladies & we sure had a lot of laughs. She will be missed by many.
Dear Mrs McMasters,
I just wanted to say thank you for always believing in me and giving me stern wise and nurturing advice as a youth. It was always so wonderful to see your smiling face each and every morning during elementary school..daily I would look for your comforting spirit to comfort my busy lil behind so that my day would be without harm it was like having my own mom watching over me every day. Thank you for lifting my head up that day I was sent to the principal office for being bad ..then telling me how much of a good little boy I was and when I tried to shun you..you pulled my ear and said did you hear what I said..and I mumbled yeah..and you said with that neighborhood Mother’s Voice “excuse me”….. and I immediately said yes ma’am, then you told me to go on and get back to class..on my way out of the office I looked back to see if you were angry at me…and of course not..but again and as always there was that warm MOTHERLY smile once again to guide me through my day☺️.
Thank you mom for your never ending LOVE.
Love and miss you already ?
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
REST PEACEFUL IN HEAVEN ??
I am very sorry for your loss Mrs. Banks. I will say a prayer for comfort and peace for you and your family.??
Mrs. McMaster was one of many mothers ( besides my own of course) in our neighborhood that I loved & respected with my whole heart! Back in those days…we were disciplined by many…and I have never heard her raise her voice. But she was very firm & kind. You couldn’t help but to love her.
To her children…Linda, Steve & Judy…I love all & I loved your mom…and I will never forget her. My prayers are with you all ?
I love you like a mother I want you to rest easy and comfortable I got Judy Searcy that’s my sister I love my unconditional
To know Edna was to love her. Her family was her world. Her insight to the children that attended Barrows school was amazing. She will be deeply missed by all that knew her. My prayers are with her family.
So Sorry For Your Loss. Praying For You Ms. KITT and The Family. Love you ❤❤❤
Thank you ❤️
My deepest condolences to family
My deepest condolences to the family. Petie was a very sweet woman, with whom I was grateful to have met and shared some fond moments. Peace & blessings Love Shawan Brand
Dear Sweet Edna, I so fondly remember all the great laughs and funny stories we shared over the years at Barrows. But, what I remember most is your loving way of working with the “kids.” You were always cool and calm no matter what the situation was whether it was a staff member or a student. One of your saying I enjoyed hearing was, “I can’t eat that and stay in school!!” You will always have a special place in so many hearts and surely a special place in heaven with an endless supply of strawberries.
Sending my love to the McMaster family. I’ve known this lovely lady all my life and she treated my parents, my brothers and I like family. Sometimes we would come to Three Rivers and if time permit; before we would leave, we would stop by and she lovingly was always happy to see us back in the day. I’am so sorry to hear of Petey’s passing, she was such a sweet and loving person. Condolences to the many family members and friends who she has touched along her journey. I will forever remember her smile. I’am so glad I was able to see her some months ago and we had small talk, hugged and said our goodbye. That is how I will forever remember her?
Steve, So sorry for your loss. I know how rough it is since I lost my Mom on Dec. 28, 18. Stacy and I both sends our prayers and condolences to you and Kathy.