Mattie Louise "Monkey" Vining-Edwards, 75, of Inverness, Florida, daughter of Walter and Mattie Blume Vining, loving wife of John Douglas Edwards, went to be with the Lord on March 15, 2015, at her home in Inverness after a battle with lung cancer. She was preceded in death by brothers Thomas Franklin Vining, James Otto Vining, Jesse William Vining of Sumter, South Carolina, and Clarence Curtis Vining of Ocean City, California; sisters Eloise Broadway, Thelma Alberta Waynick of Sumter, South Carolina, and Mary Pansy Summerton of Mansfield, Ohio. She is survived by her loving husband John; one son, Kevin D. Edwards; daughter-in-law Frances Edwards; one daughter, Lisa D. Odierna; and loving friend Julie E. Kleski. She is also survived by four loving grandchildren, Autumn Michelle Odierna, Melanie Camille Edwards, Matthew Joseph Odierna and Benjamin Douglas Edwards. In addition, she has two great-grandchildren, Kaylee Camille Edwards and Wyatt James Franklin. Along with sisters Lela Mae Bell, Mildred Kathleen Winburn, Frances Ion Lovelace and surviving brothers are George Douglas Vining and Cecil Vining as well as many loved nieces and nephews. Mattie was a devoted Christian, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She lived in Sumter, South Carolina, where she worked at S. H. Kress & Co. She moved to Ashland, Ohio, in 1958, where she worked at the Eagle Rubber Co. This is where Mattie met her husband John Edwards and raised their two children. In 1990 they moved to Inverness, Florida, for retirement. Mattie enjoyed life to the fullest. She found the most joy by spending time with her family and loved ones. Abiding love was her source of ultimate happiness. Mattie will be dearly missed by all who loved her and whom she loved. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 19, at Victory Baptist Church, Inverness, with the Rev. Gary Beeler officiating. Burial will follow in Florida National Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 10 a.m. at the church until the hour of service. Published in Citrus County Chronicle on Mar. 18, 2015