Mary Beatrice, the eighth of 11 children, was born August 17, 1918, to Thomas Edgar and Mary Loretta Stallings Warren. She was baptized in Sacred Heart Church at Waterflow, N.M.
Her formal education began in September 1924 at Sacred Heart Academy and continued there until the family moved to Yellow Jacket, Colo., where she completed the eighth grade. Her parents wanted her to attend a Catholic high school, but the cost was prohibitive. The Ursulines at Waterflow offered Beatrice a scholarship as a work student at Sacred Heart Academy in Waterflow. During her sophomore year, Beatrice decided that she wanted to become a Sister like “the Ursulines who were always helping others.”
Beatrice and her sister Thelma left New Mexico on August 17, 1935, for Maple Mount with two brothers and a cousin as traveling companions. September 8, 1935, the two sisters entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph. On August 14, 1934, Beatrice and Thelma were vested with the Ursuline habit. Beatrice received the name Sister Mary Edgar and Thelma became Sister Ancilla Marie.
Sister Mary Edgar‘s teaching apostolate began in September 1938 at Rome, Ky., where she taught the primary grades, was organist and gave music lessons for eight years. She continued this ministry in Kentucky at Hardinsburg for four years, Sorgho for five years and Fairfield for eight years. In 1963, Sister Mary Edgar was appointed director of novices for two years and director of postulants for one year. In 1966, she was elected Mother Assistant for two consecutive three-year terms. She then served as local superior at the Motherhouse for two years. In 1973, Sister accepted a position as parish team minister and organist at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Campbellsville, Ky. In 1976, Sister was elected to the Council for two consecutive four-year terms. Following this position, she was missioned to St. Teresa Parish in Grants, N.M., as parish minister and organist. In 1988, she came back to Kentucky and served as administrator of Health and Personal Care in the infirmary at Mount Saint Joseph for two years. She returned to New Mexico as pastoral minister and organist at St. Joseph Parish, Aztec. In 1993, she returned to Kentucky and served as parish minister and organist at St. Pius X Parish in Calvert City. In the summer of 1997, she retired to the Motherhouse as a member of the Liturgy committee and assistant organist. She aided the nursing staff in caring for her sister, Sister Ancilla. Marie, an Alzheimer’s patient in the infirmary.
On December 20, 1997, Sister Mary Edgar was admitted to ICU at Owensboro-Mercy Hospital. As she lay dying, several of the Sisters surrounded her singing her favorite hymns and praying while tearful doctors and nurses watched in amazement. The wake service was held December 23. Father Anthony Shonis celebrated the funeral Mass on Wednesday, December 24, 1997. Sister Mary Edgar’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery. Her Ursuline sister, Sister Ancilla Marie and an Ursuline niece, Sister Fran Wilhelm, were among the family survivors.