Merrell Greenwood Edney, age 86, died July 18, 2024 in Mars Hill, NC after a period of declining health. He grew up in Madison County, NC and was the son of the late Calvin Ransome Edney and Palma Carter Edney. He and his brother, Calvin, enjoyed sharing stories of those days growing up in the bustling town of Marshall, when US 25/70 went through the middle of town.

Greenwood graduated from Marshall High School on the Island and went to UNC-Chapel Hill where he studied history, political science, and comparative religion while being on the swim team. After three years at UNC, he joined the US Army, serving 3 years active duty - 2 years of which were stationed in Asmara, Eritrea, and Ethiopia in Africa as an intelligence specialist. In true Greenwood intrepid spirit, during leave he climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro; another leave took him scuba diving in the Red Sea.

On his return to the USA, he attended Mars Hill College and received his BA in History. He then lived in New York City, Texas, Boston, Georgia, and Florida. Later, he received his MA in History from East Tennessee State University and began work on a PhD in History at the University of Tennessee.

In August 1969, he met Elizabeth Ellis Williamson and they were married 4 months later. They settled together in Asheville, NC to work and raise their family. Theirs was a dynamic relationship, a partnership, and love affair.

Greenwood's post-Great Depression and World War II era upbringing meant he never met a 2x4 he didn't like or couldn't use, a nail he couldn't straighten and save. He was a "saver" of everything! As he often said: "It's all history."

His sharp mind was one of his greatest assets. His recall of history was legendary. Everyone wanted him on their team during Trivial Pursuit - except we had to institute the "timer" because of him.

He was a lifelong learner and voracious reader of History - American History, in particular - specializing in Trans-Mississippi West. He was the consummate student, scholar, and absent-minded professor.

His 38-year career as an Educator began in El Paso, Texas. He loved teaching and coaching - from middle schoolers to high school teens to college students. During his teaching career he was chair of the history department and Teacher of the Year at T.C. Roberson High School; Teacher of the Year for North Carolina from the Daughters of the American Revolution; Creative Teacher of the Year for Buncombe County Schools; a James Madison Fellow at Indiana University; and an avid student of the United States Constitution. One former student described him as "having history running through his veins."

He was a Bordeaux cookie aficionado, had an abiding love affair with sourdough bread, coffee ice cream, Johnnie Walker Scotch, and Wild Turkey 101.

He took great pleasure in making people laugh, whether lifelong friends and family who had heard his stories and jokes countless times, or an unsuspecting newcomer, unaware they were about to get their leg pulled. He was a prankster and liked to jump out to startle you as you rounded a corner.

He loved old westerns, cowboy songs, and Marty Robbins; dogs; his purebred Hereford cattle herd and Rufus the bull; Austin Healey cars, vintage Land Rovers, trains, his Massey Ferguson tractor - anything with an internal combustion engine; C. S. Lewis and Hemingway; sports; National Geographic Magazine; dancing; playing poker with his friends; road trips and fly fishing with his lifelong friends; and his Farm.

His love of music was born out of the Pop Story days as a teenager in Marshall - show tunes, classical, 1950's pop music. He enjoyed Edith Piaf, the harmony of Barbershop Quartet, and the powerful sound of a brass ensemble.

In his younger years, Greenwood liked to tent camp on the bank of a river, swim in any available body of water, ski, and play golf at his favorite course, Biltmore Forest Country Club, where he was a member for almost 50 years.

He was a devoted father. He volunteered to coach a girls' recreational soccer team so his daughter and her friends could have a girls-only team. He attended every soccer, football, tennis, and basketball game in which his kids played. He enjoyed watching from the banks of a river, as his daughter rowed with her College of Charleston crew team. He liked to say he would drive the 777-mile trip to West Point to visit his son and watch the exhausted plebe sleep. He avidly attended every Army/Navy game during those four years.

He was a life-long Baptist and Republican. He served several years as Veteran Liaison through the 11th district congressional office. During those years, he advocated for Veterans and helped them access benefits and services in western North Carolina. One of his most cherished memories was placing a wreath at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.

He served as Chair of the Save Our Island School Committee in Marshall and watched as the town and others came together to not only save the school from demolition, but finance and develop a thriving entity for artists.

Well into his 80's, Greenwood continued to learn, taking online courses in history, comparative religion, and biographies of writers and historical figures. His bookshelves overflowed with a broad array of titles that interested him.

But, most of all, he loved his children and their families. He was immensely proud of Liza and Woody. He and they would share colorful conversations about history, geography, books they were reading. They would reminisce about the many road trips taken during their youth, usually in the RV with the dog, visiting more than 35 National Parks and much of Canada and Mexico. Greenwood's successful quest was to take Woody and Liza to all 50 states before they graduated high school. Of course, that meant stopping at every historical marker along the way!

Greenwood is survived by Elizabeth Edney Wagar, her husband Chris, and their children Luke, Clint, and Teagan; Merrell Greenwood Edney, Jr, his wife Jennifer, and their children Greenwood III and Adeline; his brother Calvin R Edney Jr; his sister-in-law and husband, Lynn and Mike Busby; brother-in-law and wife, David and Dionne Williamson; sister-in-law, Melanie Williamson, many cousins, nieces and nephews; and his wife of 54 years, Ellis, who loved him dearly.

He was preceded in death by his parents; mother and father-in-law, Lib and Bill Williamson; brother-in-law, Chip Williamson; nephew Sonny Williamson; and niece Ruth Busby.

Donations in Greenwood's memory can be made to the Academy for the Arts, 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC 28801.

There will be a memorial service followed by a reception on August 3, 2024 at 1:00 PM in the Chapel at First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC 28801.