Edward Dean Souders

Edward Dean Souders, age 77 of Vernal, passed away on June 9, 2024 in the Philippines. Born May 27, 1947,to Claude and Helen (Burkhiem), Souders in Boulder, CO. Edward (Ed) served in the U.S. Navy from 1964-1968. In the 70s, Ed made his way to the Uintah Basin, where he became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. He met and married Judy Ann Hardinger in 1973 and had Jared Dean Souders. They later divorced, and Ed married Cherilyn Calder Souders in 1984 and had Cherissa Lyn Souders. During Ed's time on earth, he lived a life of adventures and entrepreneurship. He started his construction company, E.S.C.O. Construction, flipping reality, and then started up E. Z. Pawn and E.Z. Cash & Loans. He missed working in construction "moving dirt" and went to work as a pipeline inspector, which took him to various places in the states. Anyone who knew Ed knew he loved a good prank anytime of the year, but mostly at Halloween time. He loved being involved in the community he spent several years volunteering as an AYSO soccer coach and as a traveling soccer team coach, playing Santa at Christmas parties, serving on the PTA, putting together a youth group for the relay for life, mentoring young men, serving on the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo Committee, providing Christmas Dinners for several years to the Turning Point Shelter, and serving in various church callings. Ed loved being outdoors whether it was camping, riding 4 wheelers, hiking, fishing, hunting, snorkeling, working in the yard and garden, or most of all moving dirt with a shovel or his backhoe "oh how he made a backhoe dance". He accomplished many things, and one of his proud accomplishments was hiking the full 100 miles of the Uinta Highline Trail at the age of 60 and doing it faster than average. Most of all he loved his family, his children and grandchildren and he would do anything for them. In 2017 he started suffering from the cruel disease of dementia. His adventures slowed down, but not his love for his family and friends. Now he can have a clear and peaceful mind again. Dad you are going to be greatly missed. Ed is preceeded in death by his father Claude Francis Souders, mother Helen Burkhiem Souders, step father/uncle Vernon Souders, and brother Bobby Souders. Ed is survived by his children Jared Dean (Nicole) Souders and Cherissa Lyn (Bret) Hitchcock, Grandchildren Maggie May (Andrew) Bird, and Tayson Calder Collett, Siblings Carol (Frank) Sales of NY and Danny (Linda) Souders of CO and many nephews and neices. Memorial Services for Edward will be held Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 11:00am at the Phillips Ashley Valley Funeral Home. Military Honors by the American Legion Post 11 will be held directly following the services at the funeral home.