Edith Marie “Edy” (Chase) Walters, 82, of Waverly, Ohio, passed away on August 12, 2026, leaving behind a family who adored her, a community of people whose lives she touched, and a legacy built on love, kindness, hard work, and a whole lot of hugs.
Edy was born in Houston, Texas, to the late Russel “Peck” Chase and Rowena “Winnie” Chase.
Edy was the love of Reed Hugh Walters’ life. They shared 61 years of marriage, building a life and family together that became the center of Edy’s world. She worried about her family, celebrated them, protected them, laughed with them, and loved them fiercely. If Edy loved you, she loved you hard.
She was the mother of four daughters. She was preceded in death by daughters Kimberly Ann Walters and Krista Michelle Walters and is survived by daughters Jennifer Lynn Smathers (Jack) and Vicki Ann Noel (Tom). Being a mother was at the heart of who Edy was. She was endlessly supportive, and her life was devoted to her girls. By the way she lived, she taught them how to be mothers themselves, how to love unconditionally, how to work hard—and, importantly, how to cook.
To her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was “Nana,” a sweet, understanding and unconditionally loving presence in their lives. Her grandchildren are Ashley Meyer (Matt), Jacob Smathers (Nick), Miranda Hubbard (Keegan), Thomas Noel (Michael), and Bryn Smathers (Johnna). She was preceded in death by grandsons Zachariah Musser and Tyler Smathers. Her great-grandchildren are Benjamin and Joshua Meyer, Collin and Meredith Smathers, and Porter Hubbard. Her Thanksgiving stuffing recipe will live on with them, as will countless memories of her smile, her hugs and the sound of her laughter.
Edy is also survived by her sisters, Barbara Sue Bolin (Vern) and Charlotte Ann Clovis (Sam).
For 42 years, Edy made people beautiful for a living, graduating from Nationwide Beauty Academy in 1963 and working as a beautician until her retirement in 2005. In 1982, she opened Edy’s Hair Biz, famously advertised by the roadside sign proclaiming it the “Best Little Hair House This Side of Texas.”
Hair Biz was much more than a business to Edy. Her customers became lifelong friends, with many trusting Edy with their hair for most of their lives. And Edy was a leader long before leadership became a popular business topic. She was visionary enough to offer her operators paid vacation time, but humble enough to fold towels, sweep hair and clean brushes alongside them. She never asked anyone to do work she wasn’t willing to do herself.
Perhaps most tellingly, when operators left Hair Biz to open businesses of their own, Edy didn’t see them as competition. She considered their success an honor and was proud to have played a part in helping them grow.
She remained enormously proud that Hair Biz continues as a beauty shop today and delighted in reminding people that she was the “real Edy—the OG.”
Outside the shop, Edy loved camping, Christmas, trips to Hilton Head, 60s and 70s pop rock, and over the course of her life, 13 very lucky dogs.
Edy also believed a woman should be properly prepared to face the world. For her, that meant lipstick—and preferably bright red.
She had sayings for nearly every occasion: “It is what it is.” “What will be will be.” “Whatever floats your boat.” And when there was an abundance of something, there was “more than Carter’s has pills.”
She could laugh until her belly hurt with her daughters, loved hearing her grandchildren giggle, and took particular delight whenever Reed’s Patriots lost. Her family will miss her famous “Good Morning Song,” her reminders to “be careful,” her concern for everyone she loved, her companionship, those beautiful eyes and smile, and perhaps most of all, her hugs. Those hugs were how Edy spoke love.
People trusted her because they knew they could. She offered friendship without reservation and confidentiality without question. She was kind, smart, strong, sweet and loyal. She didn’t sweat the small stuff. She led by example. She taught her family that strength and tenderness can live comfortably in the same person and that success means more when you help someone else succeed along the way.
When her family was asked what they would always remember about Edy, the answers were simple: her laugh; how she made people feel; her beauty, inside and out; and her beautiful eyes and smile.
Those are the things that remain.
A marriage spanning more than six decades. Daughters who learned how to mother by watching their own. Generations who knew the unconditional love of Nana. Hairdressers who became business owners. Customers who became friends. A Thanksgiving recipe that will continue to appear on family tables. Thirteen dogs who knew they had found the right human. Bright red lipstick. A beautiful smile. A belly laugh. And countless people who knew exactly how it felt to be loved by Edy.
Visitation and funeral services will be held through Botkin Funeral Home in Waverly, Ohio. Burial will follow in Evergreen Union Cemetery on Denver Road in Waverly. Arrangements will be held at Botkin-Hornback Funeral Home in Waverly, Ohio on Saturday August 15, 2026, visitation from 10-12 and funeral services at 12 noon.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to SOMC Hospice at SOMC Development Foundation (Hospice Caritas Fund) 724 8th Street Portsmouth, Ohio 45662, Saint Jude at www.saintjude.org, send flowers to shut ins at Bristol Village or a donation in Edy’s name to the charity of your choice.
