Katharine Mann Edmonds Obituary (1929 - 2014)

MANCHESTER - Katharine Mann Edmonds, 85, of Manchester, formerly of Ruidoso, N.M., and Fairport, N.Y., passed away suddenly in her sleep on Dec. 20, 2014. 'Trink,' as she was affectionately known to all of her family and friends, was born on March 8, 1929, in Staten Island, N.Y., to Richard Elisha Mann and Carol Smith Mann. She had two older siblings, Eleanor Fairbrother Mann and Richard 'Rink' Elisha Mann Jr., both of whom predeceased her. Following an idyllic childhood surrounded by her horses, siblings and friends, often staying at the family farm in Chatham Center, N.Y., Trink graduated first in her class at Staten Island Academy. From there, Trink attended Smith College in Northampton, Mass., where she graduated with a degree in sociology. After her parents moved to the Chicago area, Trink met and married Samuel Pierce Edmonds. Together they raised three children, moving over the years from Indianapolis, to Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, and Fairport, N.Y. Following Sam's and Trink's retirements in 1992, they moved to Ruidoso, N.M., and built their dream home. Trink stayed on in Ruidoso, which she adored, for 11 years following Sam's unexpected death in 1994. She was instrumental in helping to organize the restoration and preservation of historic Fort Stanton in New Mexico, which was ultimately designated as a State Monument. In 2005, Trink moved to Manchester so that she could be close to her younger daughter and her children. Trink had many passions, first and foremost a deep commitment to teaching. She was an educator and school administrator for 40 years, and continued on as a volunteer both in Ruidoso and in Manchester. She tutored many students in her free time, including teaching adult literacy. Trink also loved to travel, and over the years her many trips took her to Africa, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Central America. In the days before her death, Trink was planning to leave for a Christmas trip to the Bahamas, a scheduled trip to Myanmar in February, and a trip to Alaska during the summer. One of her favorite mottos was 'rest, and rust!' This, she refused to do. She also loved her animals. Trink was a devoted horsewoman for her entire life, riding her beloved horse 'J.T.' at Meadow View Stables in Kents Hill right up until the day before she died. Trink made her home, and her community, wherever she lived over the years. Since moving to Manchester, she committed herself wholeheartedly to life in Maine, becoming an active member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church and pouring herself with complete dedication into committees, fundraising efforts, and Sunday school planning. She is survived by her three children, Carol Aines of Livermore, Calif., Pierce Edmonds of Manchester and Helen Edmonds, also of Manchester; five dearly loved grandchildren, Ethan and Zachary Aines, Katharine Dickinson, and Eleanor and Grace Hodgkin; and two great-grandchildren, Kaylee and Paige Dickinson. Trink's passing will leave a tremendous void in the lives of her family, her friends, and the communities she has touched. A celebration of Trink’s life will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2015 at 2:00 p.m., at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (at the Winthrop Center Friends Church), 219 Winthrop Center Road, Route 135, Winthrop, Maine. Arrangements are in the care of Knowlton & Hewins Funeral Home and Cremation Service, One Church St., Augusta, where memories, condolences, photos and videos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of our website at www.khrfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in Trink's name may be made to support the Fort Stanton Historic Site at: Fort Stanton, Inc. P.O. Box 1, 104 Kit Carson Rd. Fort Stanton, New Mexico 88323 or www.fortstanton.org