PREECE, Edna Rose

Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, Arizona, Thursday, December 13, 2012 Edna Rose Preece died Sunday morning, December 9th in Phoenix. Born in 1920 to Joe and Josephine Locatelli Maickel in Butte, Montana, she graduated from high school in Helena. Following business school, she worked as a secretary for the WACS in Washington D.C. After the war she worked for the Civil Aviation Agency (later known as the Federal Aviation Agency) in Whitehall, Montana. Here she met a handsome young fellow employee, Boyd Emerson Preece. They were married in 1951 in Butte. They were blessed with a son, Stephen Christopher Preece, on December 8th, 1952. Edna, Boyd, and later Steve traveled throughout the Northwestern States while Boyd installed electronic air navigation equipment. When Steve reached school age the family settled in Oklahoma City where Boyd taught at Federal Aviation Academy. Wishing to return to the western states, Boyd transferred to Kingman in 1965. After Edna's mother passed away in 1967, her father, Joe Maickel moved from Butte to Kingman to live with his daughter's family. Edna cared for her father until his death in 1983. While making a home for her mobile family, reading was Edna's consistent joy and avocation. In 1970 Boyd again transferred. This time to Flagstaff, a location the entire family enjoyed. Edna became active in the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. Edna was intelligent, well read and always ready to care for family. She will be remembered for her love of family, intelligent conversation and philanthropy. In 2001 Edna's love and life companion, Boyd, passed away. Edna continued living in Flagstaff until 2010 when she moved to Phoenix to be closer to her son. She leaves behind her son Stephen Christopher Preece and his wife Kathleen, numerous cousins and friends. The family suggests memorial donations be made to Hospice of the Valley, Phoenix. This obituary was prepared by the Advertising Department (928) 556-2279.