Edyth “Edie” Sedgley Bovee, loving wife, devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away in Houston, Texas, on September 23, 2025, at the age of 101. A friend to all, she lived a life that intertwined her faith with love of learning and people.
Early Years
Edyth Frances Sedgley was born on September 1, 1924, in Brookfield, Illinois, the second daughter of William Thomas Sedgley and Frances Kent. When she was in high school, the family relocated to Bristol, Virginia, where she graduated from Virginia High School in 1942.
Edie earned a B.A. in Christian education from Wheaton College in Illinois in 1946, and a master's in Biblical education from Columbia Bible College in 1949. During her graduate studies, she focused on linguistics with a plan to do missionary work in the Amazon jungles. This led to an interview with the Navigators working for follow-up ministry with the Billy Graham crusades. While serving in Chattanooga, Tennessee, she met Charles “Chuck” Bovee.
Edie and Chuck married on July 30, 1955, on the grounds of Baylor Prep School in Chattanooga, where Chuck was teaching. In 1956, they started their family with twins Michelle and Michael, followed by Kent, Mark, and Spence. Moving to New York City, Edie earned a master's in guidance and student personnel from Columbia University Teachers College in 1961. The family moved to Decatur, Georgia where she was an instructor in psychology at Dekalb College. Their next move was to Wenham, Massachusetts, where Edie was an instructor in psychology at North Shore Community College in Boston and Chuck was an associate professor of psychology and Coordinator of Counseling Services at Gordon College.
Alaska Years
In the fall of 1970, the Bovees packed up the family of seven and moved to Sitka. Edie loved Sitka right from the beginning. “The first thing I noticed is I could be involved in the community,” she said. “We came from Boston, where you didn’t get involved in anything unless you were a true Bostonian. I was impressed that anyone here could get involved in anything that you wanted to be involved in and be part of the community.”
While Chuck began his academic dean role at Sheldon Jackson College, Edie took a job at Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital teaching children of patients who came from remote villages for medical care. In 1971, she began her long career at Sheldon Jackson College as a professor of psychology, finally retiring in 1993. She also directed Head Start training for the Rural Alaska Community Action Program and later led Cooperative Education and Career Development at the college.
Life near campus meant an open-door home. Students, colleagues, and neighbors were always welcome, young and old, whether local or from out of town. Their frequent dinners always made for great conversations and friendships. Edie’s gift for hospitality was matched by her genuine curiosity about people’s lives and perspectives. She was a lifelong learner, curious about anything and anyone. Her typical question when she met someone was “So how did you get into the work you’re doing.” Together, she and Chuck supported Sitka’s Young Life ministry, co-owned the Wild Strawberry Restaurant , which received a coveted review in Gourmet magazine, and laid claim to having Sitka’s first espresso machine!
Edie and Chuck were very involved in community life, significantly supporting the Sitka Summer Music Festival, Fine Arts Camp, and Sheldon Jackson Historic Site Preservation Society that helped raise funds to save and refurbish SJ's Allen Auditorium.
In what free time she had, Edie enjoyed gardening, playing her baby-grand piano overlooking Crescent Harbor, singing with Sweet Adelines, and learning Japanese. In 1977, she was in Baranof Little Theatre Guild’s “The Music Man” production playing Mrs. Paroo, the mother of Winthrop, her shy son with a prominent lisp, played by her actual son Spence. Edie also was active with various organizations, including Elderhostel and Sitkans Against Family Violence.
In the spring of 2015, Edie and Chuck decided to move to San Diego, California. The City & Borough of Sitka proclaimed Thursday, April 9, 2015, as "Dr. Chuck & Edie Bovee Day" in recognition of their 45 years of commitment to the community.
Later Years
From their new home at Fredericka Manor retirement community in Chula Vista, California, they continued to make friends and enjoy visits with their children and grandchildren. Edie was involved in many activities at Fredericka such as exercise classes, choir, concerts, and Bible studies, but what she enjoyed most was visiting with other residents. Chuck passed away in March 2021 and in November 2024, Edie moved to Houston, Texas to be near her daughter Michelle.
Legacy
Edie is survived by her children: Michelle Masters (Joe) of Houston; Michael Bovee (Barbara) of San Diego, California; Kent Bovee of Sitka; Mark Bovee (Christi) of Woodland Park, Colorado; and Spence Bovee of Los Angeles, California. She also leaves behind ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, along with generations of students, friends, and community members whose lives were enriched by her warmth, curiosity, and enduring faith.
A celebration of her life is planned for July of 2026 in Sitka.
