Edwyna Bagwell, 94, passed away Aug. 22, 2020, in Colorado Springs, CO. She was born July 11, 1926, in Graham, to Alex and Winnie (Lisle) Pugh. She grew up in various Phillips Oil company towns in the Graham area. Her dad was later transferred to Sanford in the Texas Panhandle, and Edwyna graduated from high school at Phillips.

She received a Business Administration degree from West Texas State College in Canyon, where she met J.A. Bagwell. They eloped to Amarillo and were married 73 years. They farmed and ranched at Amistad, New Mexico, and Edwyna taught school there for a few years. All three of their daughters were born in New Mexico.

In 1960 they moved to the San Luis Valley in Colorado where J.A. and his dad ranched. Edwyna always said those years were some of the happiest of her life. In 1970 they sold the ranch at Villa Grove, moved to Poncha Springs, Colorado, and bought a KOA Campground south of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. They ran the campground seasonally for 21 years and made numerous life-long friends to add to the ones they already had.

After they sold the campground, they retired to Poncha Springs, where Edwyna was a member of the Salida Church of Christ. In 2006 J.A. and Edwyna, along with their daughters and granddaughter, visited Ireland to celebrate Edwyna’s 80th birthday. The trip was a highlight for the whole family, and J.A. and Edwyna talked about it often in the following years.

Edwyna was a smart, independent woman and also the ultimate nurturer. (She could drive a loaded grain truck with a baby and a 4-year-old on the seat beside her!) She grew up around a large extended family that she loved dearly and remained close to her entire life. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, a dedicated friend, wonderful cook, and a great hostess. The girls’ friends often said how comfortable and welcome they felt in the Bagwell home. She sewed clothes for herself and her family, making Western shirts for J.A. and mending dozens of pairs of Levis for him. She also had jobs outside the home at various times. When they ran the campground, she became a full partner in the business, keeping the books and performing many other tasks around the campground, along with making three meals a day for family and employees. Despite all the hard work over the years, she was a fun person who loved to laugh. Family get-togethers always turned to telling funny family stories.

In 2016 she and J.A. moved to The Bridge assisted living facility in Colorado Springs. She was happy to be close to her youngest daughter, Barbara, as well as her granddaughter, Carol. She made several good friends and loved playing Bingo with them.

Edwyna is survived by her husband J.A. of Colorado Springs; daughters Mary Lynn (Glen) Stillings of Del Norte, Colorado, Karen Bagwell (Mark Holdrege) of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Barbara Bagwell of Colorado Springs; granddaughter Carol Stillings of Colorado Springs; brother-in-law Robert Bagwell of Hazlehurst, Mississippi; sister-in-law LaTrelle Bagwell of Marble Falls; first cousins Glen Lisle Jr., Janice Keeth, George F. Lisle, and Sandra White; and nieces, nephews, and numerous distant cousins.

Edwyna was predeceased by her parents, her sister Hallie Wanda Williams, and her grandson Brian Stillings.

She will be missed by many, and we wait with hope for our reunion with her in Heaven.

There will be no service at this time. Colonial Funeral Home in Dimmitt is handling arrangements, and burial will be in Castro Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Dimmitt.

Cards may be sent to J.A, c/o Carol Stillings, 5606 Oro Grande Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80918, and memorial contributions may be made to the Gooseneck Cemetery in Graham, Texas, or Feeding America.