Eddie Lee “Ed” Jarratt, 73, of Salem, went to be with the Lord on April 15, 2020, at home surrounded by his family.
Ed was born on July 13, 1946, to the late Bryant and Mary Jarratt of Stony Creek, Virginia. The youngest of six children, he and his siblings grew up on a farm, growing tobacco and peanuts. He enjoyed going to the fishing hole with his family when they were done with the day’s work. After graduating high school, Ed enrolled in National Business College in Roanoke, earning his associate degree in Accounting.
Ed paused his education to proudly serve his country in the Vietnam War. For three years, he was a soldier in the Army, stationed first in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, then in Colorado. Upon returning from his tour in Vietnam, Ed continued studying Accounting at East Tennessee State, before transferring to Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree and his CPA license. After graduation, Ed worked in both public and private accounting until retirement in 2008. For a short time after, he pursued his lifelong passion of helping children by working with special needs students at G.W. Carver.
In 1973, Ed met Sharon Nolen at church in Chester. Within a month, Ed knew that Sharon was the only girl for him, and they married the following spring. Their love story continued for 46 years together, and will continue still with Ed living in Sharon’s heart.
In 1979, Ed and Sharon welcomed their first child, who quickly became Daddy’s girl. Shayna Lee was as much of a stubborn spitfire as her father, keeping her parents on their toes. Then in 1983, the family of three became a family of four when Ryan was born. Always the comedian with a heart of gold, Ryan knew how to make everyone laugh. Ed excelled at being a father, recording himself reading books to his children when work hours kept him away from home, coaching soccer, attending band competitions and football games, volunteering in PTA and Band Boosters, and taking every moment with his children that he could. Shayna and Ryan grew up knowing what the best dads were like, because they had a truly amazing father. Eddie became an honorary dad to Josh in 1997, and to Michael in 2000, treating them both like his own children.
In 2008, and again in 2012, Ed learned that being a grandpa is more fun than being a dad. Xander and Ethan loved spending time with their Pappy, working in their garden, riding bikes and playing ball. Eddie laughed when Xander wrecked his toy John Deere tractor into his Subaru, and he thrived when coaching Ethan in soccer. Both boys lit up Ed’s life, and he took so much joy in being with them.
In addition to his parents, Ed was preceded in death by brothers JB Jarratt and Horace Jarratt, sister Mae Carter, and special friend Dr. Joseph Coleman. Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife Sharon Nolen Jarratt; son Ryan Jarratt; daughter and son-in-law Shayna and Michael Hastings; honorary son Josh Harlow; grandchildren Xander and Ethan Hastings; brother and sister-in-law Henry and Kay Jarratt; sister Mary Reed; brother- and sister-in-law Rocky and Penny Nolen; brother- and sister-in-law Randy and Angie Nolen; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held privately at Sherwood Memorial Park in Salem, with a public Celebration of Life to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Ed’s memory.
Expressions of sympathy may be expressed to the family by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.
