Edward W. Draughn
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Ed Draughn, 45, of Portsmouth, died from prostate cancer on Thursday, March 17 holding the hand of Jen, his loving wife of two weeks. Known as "Eddini" the Magician, he was a staple of downtown Portsmouth where he would perform magic and mentalism to entertain and amaze people as they walked by.
Ed was born in Orlando, Florida to Beverely Draughn and Robert Draughn. He moved to New Hampshire in August 1994, after his father, Robert, passed away. He graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1996.
Ed was drawn to the life of Harry Houdini at a young age and strived to be a great magician like him. He practiced escapes from handcuffs, water escapes where he was shackled like Houdini, and even received a straight jacket for Christmas when he was 18, one of the best gifts he ever received. His sleight of hand card tricks and mentalism was his bread and butter.
When he was a young adult, Eddie learned of his biological father, Edward Perkins and went searching for him. He connected with Ed a few years ago. He was blessed to have gotten to know Ed, his sister Misty, and his niece and nephews.
Eddie was close with his mom. They would chat on the phone all the time. He was also close with his Uncle Ed, who was always there whenever Eddie needed him.
He was brought up in the Southern Baptist and Assembly of God churches, but when he was 21 he was drawn to the Catholic Church through the lives of the Saints. He went through RCIA and became a communicant of Corpus Christie, Immaculate Conception Parish in Portsmouth.
The Saints played a huge role later in his life by bringing him and his wife together. They would lovingly say that the Saints in Heaven, specifically St. Therese of Lisieux, Padre Pio, and St. Joseph, were their matchmakers. Jen and Ed met online in 2020 and became friends. When Eddie was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September 2021, Jen went to cheer him up and watch a movie as a friend. But a romance blossomed out of the tragedy. Knowing they did not have long together, they married March 3, 2022. Many have said that their love story is like a real-life Lifetime Channel movie.
Eddie was predeceased by his father, Robert Draughn, his brother Scott Perkins, and his nephew Dakota Price. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Draughn (Robidoux), mother Beverley, father Ed, sister Heidi and Tom Smith, brother David and Brittany Draughn, sister Misty and Shawn Wright, uncle Ed Bridle, his in-laws Ray and Elaine Robidoux, and his nieces and nephews Kayla, Andrew, Aiden, Alexis, McKenna, Brianna, Diamon, and Tommy.
Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, March 22nd from 4pm to 7pm at the Carrier Family Funeral Home, 38 Range Road, Windham, NH 03087. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday morning, at 10am at St. Thomas Aquinas, 26 Crystal Avenue in Derry, NH. Interment will follow at Cemetery on the Plain in Windham. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Rockingham VNA & Hospice, 137 Epping Road, Exeter, NH 03833.
Arrangements are in the care of the Carrier Family Funeral Home. For directions or to leave a message of condolence, please visit www.carrierfuneralhome.com.