Thomas Kinney Edwards, better known as Kinney, age 88, passed away Thursday, December 3, 2015 at Ashe Assisted Living and Memory Care. Mr. Edwards was born on Frank Edwards Road, the Baldwin community of Ashe County, where he lived his entire life until relocating to Segraves Care Center and Ashe Assisted Living. Mr. Edwards was born Saturday, August 27, 1927 the third child and third son of George Winford Edwards, Sr. and Mildred Greer Edwards. Kinney married Bobbie J. Campbell on December 14, 1949. They were happily married for 57 years until Bobbie passed away April 2007 due to tragic automobile accident. Kinney and Bobbie were blessed by the births of their two children, Kena in 1950 and Kim in 1952. Kinney was self-employed with his tractor trailer he hauled oak flooring across North Carolina and other states. The flooring was manufactured by Oak Flooring Company; which was owned by Kinney's father, Win and uncle Mack Edwards, whom he adored and Bobbie's uncle, Todd Gentry. Kinney who's entire life revolved around wood, handmade wood products for his family and friends in his workshop behind his house. Furniture pieces for the home and beautifully made wooden apples and pears, birdhouses, plate racks, mantels and wagons are still being enjoyed by many. He even built a playhouse Santa Claus placed in the yard Christmas Eve for Kena when she was 6 years old. Ironically, as a young boy while whittling wood, Kinney had an accident and lost his eye but never gave up his love of woodworking. Always using his hands to build, he built the home where he and Bobbie lived with their children. Kena and her husband, now live in that home. Once their children grew into adulthood, Kinney and Bobbie made it a priority to visit them often in their new home city or state. They dearly loved Kena's husband, Rick and Kim's wife, Paula. Their happiest times were with their family but especially with their granddaughter, Roslyn and she loved spending time with them in the mountains during summer months. The family always came home to Pa Kin's and Bobbie's house for Christmas, traveling great distance to spend time together. Kinney and Bobbie were active members of Bethany United Methodist Church in their younger years. Kinney's great grandmother was founder of the church in the early 1900's and his father was a lay leader and Sunday School Superintendent. Kinney hauled stone from Tennessee which was used in construction of the new church building. Besides his love of woodworking, he enjoyed growing vegetables in his garden for Bobbie to can, so they could share with family. The entire family loved spending time on Bluff Mountain, which was owned by the family, before they sold it for preservation of the North Carolina Nature Conservancy. Kinney was proud to be a member of the Democratic Party and enjoyed talking politics. Kinney was preceded in death by his wife, Bobbie; his parents G.W. "Win" and Mildred Edwards; his older brothers, Butler and Charles; a sister, Betsy Edwards Reavis and a younger brother, George, Jr. He was also preceded by Bobbie's parents, whom he loved dearly, David Hilton Campbell and Viola Gentry Campbell. Kinney is survived by a daughter, Kena Campbell Edwards Sloop and husband, Rick Sloop of West Jefferson; a son, Kim Thomas Edwards and wife, Paula Gillette Edwards, of Fleetwood; a granddaughter, Roslyn Edwards Sloop Troutman and her husband, Scott of Raleigh, NC; two great-grandsons, William Tays Troutman and Edwards Call Troutman, both of Raleigh, NC; a younger brother, John and his wife, Nancy P Edwards, of West Jefferson; several nieces and nephews survive and a step grandson, Grey Hinshaw of Tennessee. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 5, 2015 at 2:00pm at Bethany United Methodist Church with Rev. Owen Peeler officiating. Burial will follow in the Bethany Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 1:00-2:00pm; one hour prior to the funeral service. The family requests no food please. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Kinney's memory to Bethany United Methodist Church or Bethany Cemetery, 495 Hwy 194 South, West Jefferson, NC 28694. Kinney's family extends its heartfelt thanks to all the caregivers. They were truly Kinney's second family.