Julie Mann Edge

It is with deep sorrow that we share the passing on of Julie Mann Edge, age 58, of Mission Hills, KS, on May 17, 2026. Julie’s last days were spent at Saint Luke’s Hospice House, Kansas City, following complications from pneumonia, surrounded by loved ones.

On February 11,1968, in Houston, TX, Dean and Becky Mann met their vivacious and energetic daughter, Julie Elizabeth Mann. She was later joined by her sister Betsey in 1970.

Precociously, Julie established herself as an athlete early on. By nine months old, she learned to walk and launched herself into her effervescent lifestyle of constant motion. Throughout her youth, she played point guard in basketball, catcher on the softball team, and aced the tennis courts. She rode horses and skied on both water and snow. She loved dancing for the sheer joy of it. At Bucknell University, Julie set the rhythm for the men’s crew team as the coxswain. Later on, Julie added paddleboarding, yoga and Pilates to her list of activities.

In college, her year as an RA in the Environmental Dorm sparked her interest in environmental science, and when she took a job in DC with Congressman Ike Skelton, her focus led her to environmental legislation. She completed her PhD in Environmental Biology & Public Policy at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA.

On April 13, 1996, Julie married Randall “Randy” Edge, in St. Louis, MO. Their marriage was one of mutual love and respect, and they fully enjoyed participating in life together while also supporting each other’s individual interests. They moved to their Mission Hills, KS home in 1998, where they raised their daughter Caroline, born November 4, 1999, and their son Nicholas, born April 11, 2002.

She deeply valued her role as a Mom, teaching Caroline and Nicholas to “spread joy” every day, be curious, and non-judgmental. She was an unwavering source of support for them, encouraging them to pursue their passions, work hard, and become the fullest expression of who they were meant to be.

They bought their lake house, affectionately known as Camp Edge, in October of 2004, and this became the place that defined their family culture: one of deep connections, loving community, adventurous spirit and most importantly, having fun! Julie’s love of nature also included time spent in the mountains of Colorado and North Carolina, and the estuary at DeBordieu, SC.

Julie’s career path varied over time but was always defined by her desire to connect and empower people, and to share her knowledge and know-how, often through the power of her writing, love of research, skills as a consultant and coach, and understanding of the importance of our environment-–the outer and inner landscapes of our lives. Her most recent position as Senior Consultant for Technology Development and Commercialization with the Small Business Development Center at the University of Missouri-Kansas City brought her tremendous joy. She felt that all the other jobs that came before were preparing her for this one-–and she absolutely loved it.

Julie loved to “dig in the weeds,” both literally and metaphorically. She loved gardening and diving deep into research. If she wanted to learn something, she would find the answers. She was a hobbyist of hobbies—bouncing around to whatever caught her attention at the time. Some of these interests included an assortment of arts and crafts, music—including singing and playing the piano–cooking, baking, reading, and writing. Julie always had something to pique her interest, and she was always open to jump into a new experience.

Julie’s strong sense of self gave her the confidence to show up in the world. One friend described her as being made of “the best stuff.” She was tenacious yet resilient, focused, and compassionate. She asked questions, and they were always thoughtful and detailed. She invited you to look at yourself, with kindness, for the opportunity to know and grow.

On April 23, 2014, Julie was diagnosed with breast cancer. Ever the researching optimist, Julie chose a more alternative approach to healing. For four years, Julie pursued ways to listen to and work with her body. In the fall of 2018, during a cancer procedure in San Diego, CA, Julie suffered an unforeseen spinal cord stroke-–a partial spinal cord injury. As a result, Julie spent the next several months focusing only on recovering her ability to walk and hold a pen. Her relentless spirit and innate athleticism aided her in accomplishing her goals to walk and write again, and she even learned to needlepoint with her left hand! Throughout her entire healing process, Julie looked for ways to move forward with a tenacious and positive attitude-–she did not see life as a battle, but a journey.

Julie is survived by her devoted husband, Randy, and their loving children, Caroline and Nicholas. She is also survived by her parents, Dean and Becky Mann, her sister, Betsey Rebello and husband Jay, and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in passing by Margaret and Thomas Edge, Randy’s parents.

The family would like to express their profound gratitude to LaShonda Janae Brown, Lisa Ash Drackert, and Jen White as well as the multitude of caregivers, healers, and organizations who each offered their own unique skills and contributions to sustain, restore, and nurture Julie over the course of the last 12 years.

A Celebration of Life event will be held in Kansas City, on Thursday, May 28 at 3:00 p.m. at Indian Hills Country Club, 6847 Tomahawk Rd, Mission Hills, KS 66208.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 6 at 2:00 p.m. at Georgetown Presbyterian Church, 558 Black River Road, Georgetown, SC 29440.

In honor of Julie’s memory, in lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider donations to either of the two organizations that deeply impacted Julie on her healing journey:

Lee Roberson Foundation - 1200 Paint Rock Road, Kingston, TN 37763. First Nations Clinic focusing on groundbreaking nanotherapeutic cancer treatments, healing the whole person–mind, body, and soul. Include in memo: Intended for FNC Clinic Use.

NextStep Kansas City - 6600 College Blvd., Suite 315, Overland Park, KS 66211. Devoted to paralysis recovery programs.