Felix Jefferson Edwards, also known as Billy Joe Simmons, 71, of Pocahontas, died Saturday, Feb. 7, 2004, at the VA Medical Center in Memphis.

He was born July 29, 1932, in Rector to the late Desie (Riley) Edwards and Thomas Edwards. He was a welder.

He also was preceded in death by his foster parents, John Simmons and Lydia Burkett; one brother, Don Edwards, and two sisters, Ida Edwards and Freida (Sissy) Knight.

He is survived by his wife, Priscilla "Pat" Wright Edwards of Pocahontas; four sons, Tommy and Carol Edwards of Madris, Ore., Ricky Edwards of Burns, Ore., Michael and Teresa Edwards of Toledo, Ore., and Rodney and Polly Edwards of Albany, Ore.; three daughters, Linda and Hubert Tippitt of Rector, Tami and Steve Murray of Rector and Cheri and Steve Adams of Cabot; one brother, Tommy Edwards of Imboden; three sisters, Bertha Miller of Modesto, Calif., Polly Hudson of Modesto and Dorothy Glasco of Mississippi, 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Great Harvest Church with Paul Craig officiating. Burial was in Corning Cemetery with McNabb Funeral Home of Pocahontas in charge of arrangements.