Edith died peacefully on May 2, 2017 after a courageous battle with cancer. Born Edith Francis Kraus on August 2, 1956 to Ralph and Nona (Hogg) Kraus in Eureka, she is survived by her mother, Nona Kraus, brother Paul Kraus (Carla) of Eureka, sister Heidi O’Neil (Kevin) of Ferndale, as well as nieces Katie, Kelsey and Margaret, nephew Nick and stepson Daniel. She was raised at the family property on Wrigley Road, where she loved to play in the forest and fish in the North Fork of Elk River.

Edith attended Jones Prairie School through second grade, then South Bay Elementary, Jacobs Jr. High and Eureka High School, where she was very active in the music program. After graduating she went on to study music at Humboldt State University. She mastered numerous musical instruments and performed with the Humboldt Symphony Orchestra. During college, she worked in the office at Murray Field Airport, where she fell in love with aviation.

In 1977 Edith moved to Orinda to work in aviation maintenance at the Oakland Airport. Because of her great memory, mathematical aptitude and social nature, she became well regarded in the industry. She took those skills with her to Louisville, Kentucky to work as a maintenance analyst for UPS Air Freight. For enjoyment, during her stay in Louisville, she helped assemble a Celtic band and performed throughout the local area.

Edith retired from UPS in 2005 and moved to her favorite place in the world, Mt. Shasta. She continued with aviation consulting, and several years later was recruited by Southwest Airlines as a maintenance analyst and FAA liaison, prompting a move to Dallas Texas, where she lived for the next 8 years. She was very proud of the Southwest Airlines family and their people first approach to work and life. While in Dallas, Edith was also very active in the local chapter of the Jung Society.

About six months after her diagnosis, Edith stopped working to focus on her battle with cancer. She faced her advanced disease with courage and grace, always keeping a positive attitude in the face of an insurmountable obstacle. She was very thankful for the wonderful care she received in her last month from Dr. Michael Fratkin and his staff at Resolution Care, as well as all the nurses and doctors at St. Joseph Hospital.

Edith was an exceptional, loving person, who lived an experiential and spiritually full life. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Food for People, your local Rescue Mission or Women’s Shelter, or to the Resolution Care Foundation. A potluck picnic is planned in her honor at Freshwater Park in Eureka on June 11, 2017 from noon until 4 p.m. Please carpool, as parking is limited.

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The obituary above was submitted by Edith Kraus Stein’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.