Edith Alleen Dwight Lusk, 85, died at 11:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, 2002, at Ratliff Care Center in Cape Girardeau.

She was born July 17, 1917, in Jefferson City, Mo., daughter of Sereno Francis "Frank" and Edna Carl Dwight. She and Robert Allen Lusk were married Dec. 25, 1942, in Fayette, Mo. He died Feb. 28, 1982.

Mrs. Lusk attended Central Methodist College in Fayette as a freshman in 1935-36. She then taught at Linn Ridge rural school in Howard County two years. She graduated from the University of Missouri in June 1941 with a degree in home economics. She was a home demonstration agent in Linn, Mo., until her marriage in 1942.

She was a dedicated wife, mother and homemaker. She was the University of Missouri extension home economist for Cape Girardeau County beginning in 1962, hosting the weekly extension segment on KFVS-TV's Breakfast Show.

In 1968 she became area home economist for Perry, St. Francois, Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Iron, Ste. Genevieve and Madison counties.

She completed her master's degree in child and family development in 1972, and became Southeast Missouri area specialist until her retirement in 1987. She was a member of numerous local, state and national home economics clubs and organizations. She was also an active member of Centenary United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Lusk was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Allen Lusk of Cape Girardeau; three brothers, Carl Dwight of Berkeley, Calif., Nelson Dwight of Kansas City, Mo., and Marvin Dwight and wife Janet of Covington, La.

She is survived by a daughter, Linda Held of Columbia, Mo.; two sons and daughters-in-law, Larry and Carolyn Maevers Lusk and Lonnie and Debbie Parsons Lusk, all of Cape Girardeau; a sister, Marjorie Dwight New and husband Howard of Glen Allan, Miss. She has two surviving sisters-in-law, Katy Dwight of Walnut Creek, Calif., and Bessie Dwight of Kansas City. She has six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home, 1001 Mount Auburn Road in Cape Girardeau, from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Centenary United Methodist Church, 300 N. Ellis, in Cape Girardeau. The Rev. Clayton Smith will officiate.

Graveside service and burial will be at 5 p.m. Friday at Walnut Ridge Cemetery in Fayette, with the Rev. Daniel Hilty officiating.

Memorials may be made to Centenary United Methodist Church, Coyote Hill Christian Children's Home, or Alzheimer's Association.