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WYLDER, EDITH PERRY passed away July 4th, 2013, at the age of 88. Edith was born to Maude and Beverly Perry, February 15th, 1925. She was preceded in death by her son Phillip Stamm, her sister Betty Clark, her nieces Elizabeth and Susan Clark and her husband of 40 years, Delbert Wylder. She is survived by her son Paul and grandson Dario Stamm; stepsons Steven and William Wylder and their families; and her nephew Robert Clark. She is also survived by her former husband and father of her two sons, William Stamm of Albuquerque. Edith was a dedicated English professor and a devoted literary scholar. Despite her declining health in recent years, she continued to write her second book on the poetry of Emily Dickinson, titled "Talking Between the Rooms", which was to be a study of the poet John Keats' influence on Dickinson and her poetry. Edith's modest yet profound academic career began when she received her M.A. degree from the University of New Mexico in 1949. While raising a family in the countryside of Albuquerque's north valley, she pursued her study of Emily Dickinson's poetry. This research earned her a Ph.D. from UNM in 1964. Edith's book, a provocative interpretation of Dickinson's poems, titled "The Last Face", was published by UNM Press in 1971. The next part of her life was a wonderful journey with her loving husband Deb, also a scholar and professor. Deb and Edith were a team, their academic and social lives blending together to foster a nurturing and inspiring environment for their students. They taught at universities in Utah, Colorado, Minnesota and Kentucky. Many of today's published poets, writers, and scholars attribute their creative writing success the the mentorship of Deb and Edith. A former student of Edith's, now an accomplished author and professor, said of her, "Edith was not my first literature professor, but she was the first one who mattered. I took every course she--and later her husband Deb--offered. I owe most of what is good in my life to both of them. They were brilliant teachers and scholars, the best role models any student who wanted to write and teach could possibly have." In 1989, retiring from Murray State University in Kentucky, Deb and Edith continued their journey and left for New Mexico, back to where their life of love and laughter began. A private memorial service followed by a celebration of her life will be held in Morrison, Illinois on October 20th of this year. Contributions can be sent to the Murray State University Foundation's "Deb and Edith Wylder Creative Writing Scholarship". The address is MSU Office of Development, 200 Heritage Hall, Murray, Ky 42071.
        Published on: Sun August 04, 2013