Obituary for Edward "Ed" Commons Gregory

Edward Commons (Ed) Gregory, of Riverside, Iowa, passed into the eternal presence of his Lord and Savior on January 27, 2025, at the age of 74.  

Ed was born on December 7, 1950, in New Albany, Mississippi, the second of four children born to Edgar Commons and Mary Eutoyse (Chunn) Gregory.  He grew up in Myrtle, MS where he attended Myrtle Baptist Church and Myrtle Schools.  It was at this Church that Ed accepted Christ as his personal Savior and yielded his life to full time Christian ministry.  He graduated from Blue Mountain College, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, and was awarded an honorary doctorate from Hannibal-LaGrange College. Growing up in the farm environment, and with a father who was very industrious, he learned the value of hard work and multiple skills which served him well in the places where he has served in ministry.

While in high school Ed began his formal ministry by speaking in Churches and youth groups in the area and while a sophomore in college he began to serve as pastor in 1970 at the age of 19.  His entire adult life has been spent in Ministry.  He served as a pastor for 38 years, 6 in Mississippi, 6 in Tennessee, 17 in Iowa, and 9 in Alaska.  He has also spent 15 years with the Baptist Convention of Iowa in missions, administration, and Pastor/Church support roles. He also served for 9 years with the Church Ministry Division of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.  

During college years Ed met the love of his life, Cynthia Edkin from Columbus Junction, Iowa. They met during Spring break in 1969 at a youth and college student event sponsored by his home Church in Mississippi.  After a Summer of working together in a Christian Youth Camp, they were engaged, and married on January 31, 1970 at Myrtle Baptist Church. They recently celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary.  They have been blessed with four children and 12 grandchildren. 

When he had free time, he enjoyed baseball and softball as a young man, and until recently hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping. In recent years he also mixed camping and ministry by using their camper as a “portable office” while engaging Churches across the State.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents and by his only sister Mary Elizabeth Bynum.  He is survived by his wife Cynthia (Edkin), their children Cyndy Rath (Russ), Joe Gregory (Cindy Lee), Gloria Stites, and David Gregory; their grandchildren Brittany, Alysa, Wyatt, Eli, Courtney, Samantha, Tori, Justice, Eliana, Abby, Grace, and Zurie; as well as two brothers Allen and George, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

His greatest desire in life is that all his loved ones come to know and follow Jesus Christ as their Savior and to have them join him in Heaven one day.

Arrangements:
A memorial service and time of visitation with the family will be held on Saturday, February 8 at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1900 F Ave NW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa with Pastor(s) Dan Wiersema and Todd Stiles officiating. 

Visitation:  10am to Noon

Service:  Noon with a Late lunch to follow.

Please note that the Burial Service will be held at a later date.