Edward Madson

Edward (Ed) Arthur Madson April 20, 1953 – June 1, 2018

Born in Aztec to Edward Homer Madson and Marie (O’Mera) Gustafson, Ed was a true New Mexican, having spent a portion of his childhood in Las Cruces and Tularosa before returning to Farmington as a young man. After high school, Ed left for the Navy and was able to travel the world and immerse himself in the culture, traditions, and people of Greece, Italy and Scotland.

It was in Scotland when his love for the local flavor became a bit complicated, as this is when his interests turned to one local in particular – a petite, yet feisty, young blonde named Monica McPhail. A casual meeting blossomed into a romance, which in turn evolved into a National Security issue.  It seems that Ed’s job as a Mineman required a high level security clearance and that security clearance barred him from marrying a foreign national. Apparently, Ed didn’t find the US Navy near as attractive as he did Miss McPhail, so he shipped her home, said goodbye to the Navy, and, on Valentine’s Day, 1976, made her the new Mrs. Madson.

After returning to Farmington, Ed and Monica began the serious business of starting their family, beginning with the eldest son Edward, followed by daughter Messina, and wrapping things up with the youngest, Kenneth.

Ed was an outdoorsman, hunter, adventurer, and a bit of a rogue.  He was as comfortable on a horse as he was on his motorcycle. While others might carefully consider the pros and cons of a particular course of action, Ed would dive in and figure out the pitfalls as they came his way.  He savored the challenges that life delivered to him.

He raised his sons to be men; at home in the outdoors, stalwart and strong, while his beautiful daughter melted his heart into something soft that she could mold and manipulate, leaving him victim to her smiles and wiles.

In April of 2001, Ed survived a debilitating stroke that brought his active lifestyle to a sudden halt; an affront to the full-tilt-boogey life that he loved.  With the stroke came a new set of challenges – to learn to continue to love and give, even when he felt that he’d been robbed of so much. He taught others the importance of always holding onto the “Humor Option.”  He reminded us all that there were no such things as trials and tribulations – only challenges and opportunities.  He still filled the rooms with his laughter, but learned the value of quiet strength. His many friends found themselves victim to his pranks and arguably warped sense of humor, but at the same time uplifted by his compassion.

His life threw him curves that would defeat many strong men, but Ed was able to teach us what it means to meet a challenge head on.  His battles are ended now, the challenges met. The pain that he lived with for so long is now gone.

Ed is survived by his wife, Monica, and their children Edward (Sunne) Madson and grandson, Messina (Anthony) Pampillonia and one grandson and two granddaughters, and Kenneth (Megan) Madson and one grandson and two granddaughters. He is also survived by his brother, Raymond and sisters, Sherry (Greg) Pinkston and Joyce (Kevin) Sutton.

His memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church Sanctuary at 865 North Dustin in Farmington, at 10AM, Friday, June 8th. There will be fellowship stories following the service.