07/13/2026
Edith Marie Loyd passed on peacefully to her heavenly home on July 13, 2026.
Edith was born in Calloway County, Missouri on September 25, 1928 to Ernest D. and Lizzie Veneta (Watts) Hoover. She was the oldest child, in a family of four daughters and one son. She and her siblings grew up on the family farm outside of Auxvasse, Missouri. As a child she attended a country school, often telling stories of riding a horse to the school, and getting bucked off more than once. She guessed she was all of 6 years old at the time. She later attended and graduated from Auxvasse High School. She worked on the farm alongside her Dad plowing the fields and riding the harrow pulled by a mule. Farm work was a way of life for her, and she told of having to hurry with chores working in the fields in order to get ready to go on a date later that same night.
On October 3, 1946 Edith married her longtime sweetheart, Henry Lee Loyd at the First Baptist Church in Mexico, Missouri. They started their family in Mexico, and Henry worked as a carpenter and later as an electrician. Edith and Henry and their two boys, Gary and Phil, moved to Branson in 1961 and opened Loyds Electric Supply on Main Street in downtown Branson.
Edith did payroll and bookkeeping and Henry was a salesman extraordinaire – and together they made their dream grow and become a success. They were extremely proud of the legacy they built together, which is a third-generation family business today.
Henry and Edith raised their sons in Branson, where they were very active in the community. Edith was also a homemaker, a cub scout leader, loved to cook and tend to her flowers. She was well known for her Christmas cookies, 4th of July blackberry cobbler, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pies and she passed her recipes down to family members. They built a new home in 1974, where they often entertained their friends with fish fry’s and wildlife feeds, as Henry was an avid hunter and fisherman. They spent many years boating and enjoying entertaining their friends on their houseboat. They were famous for their moonlight cruises.
They loved living in the Ozarks and especially Branson. They loved to travel, whether it was a car trip cross country with friends or traveling abroad. They were always up for an adventure. She loved to play cards and dominoes with friends – just being together with people she loved. Most importantly she was a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and her legacy will live on and her memories will always be with us.
Edith was preceded in death by her husband, Henry, in 2000; her parents Earnest and Veneta Hoover, and all of her siblings: Retha Wilson, Shirley Humphreys, Bonnie Turner and Allen Hoover.
Edith is survived by her two children, Gary Loyd (Debbie) of Springfield, Phillip Loyd (Patty) of Branson; her four grandchildren, Christopher Loyd, Andrew Loyd (Sarah), Ian Loyd (Rebecca), and Evan Loyd. She is also survived by her beloved great-grandchildren, Jackson Henry Loyd, Charlotte Marie Loyd and Emmett Wayne Loyd. She is further survived by many nieces and nephews, and treasured life-long friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Edith’s honor to the Presbyterian Preschool, 420 W. Main St, Branson, Missouri 65616.
Celebration of Life for Edith will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 18 at First Presbyterian Church of Branson. Family Visitation will precede the service beginning at 10 a.m. Private burial will be at Ozarks Memorial Park.
