Edward Arthur Furnari

ED FURNARI

Beloved husband, father and grandfather, Edward (Big Ed) Arthur Furnari, 81, was called home to be with the Lord on November 3, 2019, at North MS Medical Center in Tupelo.

Ed was born February 10, 1938, in Lawrence, MA. As a child and teenager, he was known throughout New England as a singing sensation. He traveled throughout the northeast performing at weddings and other social functions. Anyone that knew Ed well...or not, has heard him belt out a tune. The man was not shy.

Ed attended Merrimack College in North Andover, MA before joining the Air Force, where he faithfully served his country for four years. While
stationed in Columbus, MS, he met his wife Pat. Together, they shared 58 wonderful years and a lifetime of cherished moments with family and
friends.

After the Air Force, Ed started his career as a cost accountant for General Tire in Columbus, MS. He was transferred with General Tire to Newcomerstown, Ohio, and then went on to take a position as Controller for ITT Inc. in South Bend, Indiana. It was during this time that Ed
developed his love for all things Notre Dame...go Fighting Irish! In 1977, unbeknownst to Ed, his mother-in-law sent his resume to Marathon
Equipment Company. That was the beginning of 25 successful and happy years as first, controller, and then President of Marathon. Ed had a plaque in his office that read “I may not have been born in the South, but I got here as fast as I could”. While working at Marathon, Ed was inducted into the Environmental Industry Association Hall of Fame. After his retirement in 2002, Ed went on to start numerous business ventures,
many with his son Matt. Ed might have been a finance guy, sharp as a tack till the end, but it was his creativity and enthusiasm for work and
life that was contagious. Ed liked to be involved with his community. He was past president of the Toastmaster’s Club, participated on the board of
directors for the Salvation Army and was on the finance committee for the Annunciation Catholic Church.

Ed was an avid golfer and loved spending time on the course with family and friends. In his later years, he cherished family and friends even more; often ordering everything from custom caps and t-shirts to personalized fire pits for them. He adored his grandchildren and was always quick with a word of encouragement or congratulation for a job well done. Never leaving his work ethic behind, he even had a scholastic incentive program for his grandkids starting in high school and continuing through college. Ed was always up to something. As a husband, father and grandfather, he was the cornerstone of our family. The love and admiration he had for us and that we had for him is timeless. He will live in our hearts and our lives forever as we continue to carry on with the family and life values he instilled in us all.

Ed is preceded in death by his son, Mark Furnari; parents, Sam and Adrienne Furnari; brother, Bill Furnari; sister, Helene Saldi; and half-sister, Derna Bernheart.

Ed is survived by his wife, Pat Furnari; daughters, Lisa Cochran (Paul) and Kris Nick (Christopher); son, Matt Furnari (Jacque); grandchildren, Emily Nick, Elizabeth Nick, Victoria Cochran, Mark Furnari, Zeb Cochran and Jack Furnari; sister, Dolores Furnari; half-brother, Irving Brown; half-sister, Suzie Ariel; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation and Service will be held at Annunciation Catholic Church, Saturday, November 9, 2019, from 1:00-3:00 PM. Service will be at 3:00 PM. Memorial Gunter Peel Funeral Home & Crematory, College Street location, has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Honorary Pallbearers are Bo Diermann, Walt Willis, John Andrews, Jack Mercer, Doug Moss, Don Stephenson, Gerald Nolan, Bill Lawrence,
Kelvin Berdine, Frank Beall, Phillip Dicicco and Ralph Johnson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Salvation Army of Columbus, MS. (Please memo for Ed Furnari Memoriam). Address: Salvation Army of Columbus, MS: P.O. Box 8, Columbus, MS 39703.