Edward Michael Lindsey, 68, of Memphis, passed away May 1, 2019, after a brief illness. Edward was the son of Neil and Julia Lindsey, to whom he was born at home in Memphis in 1950. He graduated from Westside High School in 1969. In his youth, he traveled the country on bicycle, and explored it underwater via scuba diving. He had a gentle, infectious spirit and a thirst for adventure. After graduating from high school, he worked as a zookeeper at the Memphis Zoo, and later, he was the Food and Beverage Controller at Solomon Alfred, a popular live entertainment venue at Overton Square in the 1970s. During that time, he married and had one daughter, Marsha. Following the end of his marriage, Edward enlisted in the U.S. Navy. His training was intense. He was deposited in a remote area with other enlistees who had to survive without food or supplies. Their goal was to reach a distant rendezvous location while evading capture. Edward was one of only a few to do so, arriving at a simple shack called, "Freedom Village," where his reward awaited: a jar of peanut butter. Edward was subsequently stationed at the Keflavik Naval Air Station in Reykjavík, Iceland. While there, he endured harsh Icelandic weather, and was involved in U.S. military air surveillance missions. He flew aboard the Navy's Lockheed P-3 Orion aircraft, which supported anti-submarine and maritime surveillance of the Russian fleet. He would later recount flying late at night in the darkness, when the stillness and quiet would sometimes be interrupted by ominous alerts indicating that Russian radar had locked onto his aircraft. After his stint in Reykjavík, Edward spent time at Moffett Field in Mountain View California, before returning to civilian life in Memphis. Once home, Edward worked diligently to complete his studies at the University of Memphis (then Memphis State), receiving a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Anthropology. Around this time, one of Edward's talents - writing poetry - paid off. He was one of three winners selected by the Memphis Press-Scimitar newspaper, in a much-publicized poetry contest on the subject of, "What the Mississippi River means to me." His prize was a week-long riverboat trip from New Orleans to Memphis on the Delta Queen steamboat. He was featured in a large photo, spread across the newspaper's front page, along with his autobiographical poem, which read as follows:

What the Mississippi River Means to Me

Watching tug boats with half mile long barges
Camping out on a sandbar and building a driftwood hut
A place to lament, to daydream and fish for catfish
To watch in awe as large trees float by like matchsticks
And wonder if beached bottles contain any messages

The ensuing years saw Edward working in the construction field. As someone who enjoyed working with his hands, the work suited him, and he excelled at it. Edward's warm, affable personality made him a joy to be around, and he won others over with his easygoing, friendly manner. Generous and giving, if he encountered someone in need, he would give them the shirt off his back - and his socks and shoes, too. Some of his favorite places included the Memphis Zoo, Shelby Forest State Park, the Memphis Pink Palace Museum, and the banks of the Mississippi River. He loved nature and animals. He read. He hand-crafted jewelry. He collected. His collecting covered many fields over the years: coins, stamps, shells, rocks and minerals, and more. He racked up enough certificates of accomplishment to cover several walls. He will be remembered as an honest, caring human being, and missed by all.
He leaves his daughter, Marsha Lindsey, of Encinitas, California; two brothers, Georg Lindsey, of Menlo Park, California; and Wayne Lindsey, of Fort Smith, Arkansas; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Neil and Julia Lindsey; and one sister, Kathy (Lindsey) Carpenter. Interment will be alongside his parents and sister at Memphis Memory Gardens, 6444 Raleigh Lagrange Road, Memphis, Tennessee. In lieu of flowers, a remembrance gift to the Memphis Zoo (a place he loved) is suggested.
High Point Funeral Home & Crematorium
901-454-5795