Celebrating Women History Month Edna Marian Rawlings Colgan

Children, church and community were the hallmarks of Edna Colgan’s life.

The mother of five, Colgan found herself their sole support after a divorce. Several low-paying jobs convinced her she needed more education in order to get a better position. She obtained her GED and then attended Maysville Business School. Along with her natural ability, that training helped her to secure jobs first at Cheap Chevrolet as a bookkeeper; then as an assistant for Dr. P.M. Ross, a Flemingsburg dentist; and finally at the Farmers Deposit Bank, now Community Trust Bank, where she worked part time until she was almost 86.

Colgan took an interest in all of her children’s activities. She was a Cub Scout den mother, taking a dozen or so little boys into her home and even helping them with the building pinewood derby cars. She was the first secretary of the Fleming County Little League and was thrilled to act as that group’s parade grand marshal in 2010. She was a 4-H leader, instructing girls in the art of sewing, something that she did for years for her family and for the public.

Colgan encouraged her children to participate in whatever interested them. For example, three were members of the Fleming County High School band, which took her to many football games (and she didn’t even like football) and parades. In addition to those extracurricular activities, she insisted that each child do their best in their academic subjects. All five have a college degree.

The Flemingsburg Christian Church was her home church for over 50 years. She was active in every phase of the church’s ministry, from the Christian Women’s Fellowship to the Senior Breakfast to various outreach programs. She served the church as a deacon, and in 2009 was recognized as a deacon emeritus.

Genealogy was one of her passions, and she spent years collecting and recording family information which she generously shared with others. Quilting was another of her loves. Of course, her children and grandchildren have samples of her artistry, but many friends and their children were also the recipients of those gifts of cloth and stitches.

Colgan was a member of several local organizations. The Homemakers groups helped her hone her skills, and she was designated a Master Homemaker some years ago. She held local and regional offices in the Fleming County Woman’s Club. She was president of Church Women United several times.

Edna Colgan was born Jan. 11, 1924, in Fleming County, the only daughter of James and Elizabeth Gray Rawlings. Her greatest strength may have been revealed when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2010. Her recovery was followed by major colon surgery which her home health nurses described as “amazing.” She passed away Jan. 4, 2015.