Edythe Shikert Bean completed her earthly journey during the early morning hours of December 27, 2025. Edie was born on November 13, 1945, in Jacksonville, Florida, to Lawrence and Cecile Shikert. Edie came into this world a few minutes before her twin sister, Evelyn. Edie’s childhood consisted of frequent extended family gatherings, days at the beach, and good times playing with cousins. Edie was considered a ‘girly girl’ as her favorite color of choice was always pink.
Edie’s father, Lawrence ‘Smokey’ Shikert, died unexpectedly when Edie was twelve years old. A few years after her father’s death, Edie was introduced to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The gospel principles that the missionaries taught just ‘felt right’ to her so Edie was baptized during her junior year of high school along with her two sisters, Evelyn and Sandy.
After graduating from Paxon High School in Jacksonville, Edie met the ‘love of her life,’ a newly discharged Air Force airman from Tennessee named Ernie Bean. Ernie and Edie were married in October 1965 and made Titusville, Florida their home for over forty years. They raised two children and added several dogs and a bunny to their family circle during their tenure in Titusville.
Edie enjoyed gardening, flower arranging, and interior decorating. She kept a meticulously clean house and clutter was not tolerated. Edie taught her children that there is a “place for everything and everything’s in its place.” Another motto she often shared with her children was, “eat it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”
Edie loved to bake but not cook. There is a difference! Birthday theme cakes, fruit pies, seven-layer bars and homemade breads were her specialties. The kitchen was her happy place and her children benefited from her love of baking treats. She would often lament that her favorite job was being a wife and a stay-at-home mother.
Edie was active in her LDS ward serving in all the auxiliaries. She also taught a single adult Sunday School class that generated long lasting friendships among her students. Edie was very proud of her match making skills when the class produced a successful marriage proposal for one shy couple. That may have been her favorite calling.
Edie loved teddy bears, holiday traditions, time spent with grandchildren, yearly family vacations, the beach, shopping for shoes, black labradors, anything pink, the Book of Mormon, ice cream, shoes with bows, key lime pie, babies, dresses with ruffles, Hallmark shows, seafood, pointed toe shoes, chocolate, snowy days, pumpkin pie, and her favorite color was ‘new,’ as in “new shoes” or “new clothes.”
Edie didn’t like cooked carrots, getting up early in the morning, messy hair, loud music, small ‘yappy’ dogs, being late to church, and children who didn’t “mind their manners.”
In 2014, Ernie’s health was failing so Ernie and Edie decided to move to Utah to live closer to their daughter. Making new friends was easy for both of them as they moved into an assisted living facility in Spanish Fork. After Ernie’s death in 2016, Edie decided to stay in Utah and enjoyed the company of her then teenage grandchildren. She took pleasure in going to lunch with friends and watching her grandsons participate in sporting events until her health declined.
Edie will be remembered as a person with a strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, a loyal friend, and a person unafraid to share her opinion about anything. She might also be described as spunky, determined, feisty, organized, and a little mischievous at times.
Edie is preceded in death by her husband Ernie, son Michael, daughter Tammy, sister Sandy, and her parents Lawrence “Smokey” Shikert and Cecile Shikert.
Edie is survived by her daughter, Donna Griffin (Cort), daughter-in-law Jennifer Bean, sister Evelyn Sherron, five grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will take place on Saturday, January 3, at 10:30 am at the Legacy House Assisted Living Facility in Spanish Fork, Utah. A family graveside service will be held later in Florida as Edie will be buried next to Ernie, the ‘love of her life.’
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