Area feels loss of prominent local attorney

After over 50 years as a lawyer in the area, Jasper Edmundson died Friday, Jan. 3, at the age of 77, leaving a hole in the community that will take time to fill, if it ever is, say friends and colleagues.

Edmundson had been a staple of the Poplar Bluff community since he started practicing in 1968.

Edmundson worked up until his passing. Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett said he saw Edmundson in court in the days leading up to Christmas.

After over 50 years as a lawyer in the area, Jasper Edmundson died Friday, Jan. 3, at the age of 77. Photo provided

“I knew him for 40 years practicing law in Poplar Bluff,” Pritchett said. “He had excellent skills as an attorney. A lot of people didn’t know, I think, that he was a very compassionate person. He helped a lot of people and didn’t publicize it. He did a lot of work in the background that I don’t think a lot of people knew about. So, I have a lot of respect for him.”

Edmundson attended Dexter High School before going on to graduate from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, and Washington University of Law School in St. Louis.

He returned to Butler County to join the Hyde, Purcell and Wilhoit law firm, before going on to be a partner at the Wilhoit, Edmundson, Terando and Hopkins law firm.

“He was a large figure, large personality here in Butler County and even some of the surrounding counties,” attorney Danny Moore said. “He was one of those figures that just went by a first name, just like Cher or Elvis. Nobody ever had to say ‘Jasper Edmundson.’ They just had to say ‘Jasper.’ Courts would ask ‘who’s your lawyer?’ ‘Jasper.’ He had a very good reputation.

“Of course, all the good things he did for the community are not going to be replaced right away and perhaps never.”

Poplar Bluff city attorney Mark Richardson echoed Moore’s statements. Edmundson was a legend in the area, both for the legal community and with the volunteer work he did.

Both men tried cases against Edmundson, and worked with him on cases. Richardson said he considered Edmundson something of a mentor, as well as a friend. By the time he started practicing law, Edmundson had been in the field for about 10 years. They later worked as partners for about nine years.

“His skills as a trial lawyer were unsurpassed for 50 years,” Richardson said. “He was, we would say, a lawyer’s lawyer. He was a gentleman. He was a fierce competitor if you were on the other side of him, but he was also a very loyal partner if you were on the same side of the fence on any particular case.”

While Edmundson’s passing is going to have an impact on the people who knew him, Richardson said he thinks it will also make a difference on the incoming lawyers who won’t get the chance to work with him.

“In the last few years, we have had to say good-bye to several very fine attorneys in Poplar Bluff ... and around Southeast Missouri,” he said. “At least for me personally, it leaves a hole in my heart and it leaves a hole, I think, in the minds of the younger bar members, the younger lawyers who are coming up the line, who unfortunately won’t have the benefit of practicing law with him or against him.”

Moore said one of the memorable things about how Edmundson practiced was that he never brought a calendar with him, and always said he could make something work.

“Any time you wanted to set a case, he’d say ‘yes, that day’s available,’” he said. “All the other lawyers would look at their calendars ‘oh, do we have that day for trial.’ Jasper would just say, ‘yes, that’s fine’ and put it down ... I couldn’t think of a bad thing to say about him.”

While Edmundson was involved in organizations such as the Northside Nutrition Center and served as a board member for the First Missouri State Bank, Pritchett said he did work on the individual level as well.

“He would help people on the individual basis and I wouldn’t find out about it until later on,” he said. “He wasn’t one to talk about it.”

Moore also put an emphasis on Edmundson’s work with people in the community.

“He did a lot of things for the community, for a lot of different people,” he said. “It never made any difference their race, nationality, sex or religion. Somebody needed help, if he could help them, he did it.”

Edmundson served as a member of national, state and local Bar Associations, including the Missouri and American Trial Lawyers Associations.

Edmundson’s work as a lawyer also translated into some of the ways he was able to help the community. The Rev. Ron Webb with the Mt. Calvary Power House Church said Edmundson “donated a lot of the legal work we had done” as well as helping other churches/ministries in the area.

Webb and Edmundson have been friends for over 30 years. He helped the church build its first restoration center at Wappapello Lake some 21 years ago, for people struggling with substance abuse, and the building of the church’s first homeless center.

“He helped a lot of people through those programs,” Webb said. “He didn’t just help build the facilities. He helped a lot of people that needed representation that had been in trouble. I would send some of our clients to him if they needed help and a lot of them didn’t have any money for representation. He would do it because he was a part of our church and he would do it as a donation to help them.”

Edmundson would reach out to him as well, Webb said, offering to help different people or families in need.

The congregation is feeling the impact of Edmundson’s passing, Webb said. Many members are saddened by it, he said, not just because he was a member of the church, but also because of what he did for the community as a whole.

“He was the most generous person you would ever meet,” Webb said. “He did it behind the scenes. He never wanted anyone to know where the help was coming from. He never wanted his name mentioned. He never wanted a photo op. He shied away from those things. He did it out of the goodness of his heart.”

Webb said Edmundson would reach out to the community in ways other than offering legal assistance.

Tammy Cassinger, with the Northside Nutrition Center, said Edmundson used to serve on the board and provided several donations to the center.

“He actually still came in and ate with us very often,” she said. “Every time he would come in, he had to speak with Andre, the chef here, and he would always make sure to tell us that we’re doing a great job and he was proud of us.”

Edmundson was also a long-time member on the Board of Directors for First Missouri State Bank. He was on the board for over 28 years and helped contribute to the growth of the bank.

“His leadership significantly contributed to the growth of the bank,” said Paul Tucker, president of First Missouri State Bank. “Jasper was a loyal friend, outstanding board member and an excellent attorney. Jasper was always a champion for the working man and always gave more than he took. His wit and unique laughter will truly be missed, but always remembered.”

Webb said he would go with Edmundson to visit people in the hospital or jail.

“He wanted to go,” he said. “He wanted to be there with them and let them know that we’re standing in their corner, that we’re fighting for you.”

Another way Edmundson would help the community, Webb said, is helping people with funeral costs.

“I’ve just never seen anybody go out of their way to help people the way he did,” he said. “Sometimes people would help you if it’s convenient, but they won’t go out of their way if it’s inconvenient. It didn’t matter to him.”

Funeral services are being organized by Rainey Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. The visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Mt. Calvary Power House Church, with burial to follow in the Dexter Cemetery.

“(There’s a) John Maxwell quote, ‘People don’t care how you know, until they know how much you care’ and he’s the epitome of that,” Webb said. “He was caring.”