Jess Edwards introduces Spencer Conley to her home, family

At the end of a whirlwind trip home to personally introduce fiancé Spencer Conley to her parents, Kristie Ledford and Will Edwards, Jessica "Jess" Edwards also worked in a brief visit at the office of The Erwin Record.The Erwin native, fresh off the conclusion to her time on "Bachelor in Paradise," arrived with Conley and Ledford in tow, for a visit with the newspaper staff and shared what it was like introducing Conley to East Tennessee and Unicoi County."As soon as we landed at the airport, he was shocked at the rolling hills and mountains," said Edwards of Conley's first impression of everything.The visit was Conley's first to Tennessee and he said he enjoyed visiting where his fiancée grew up."Everything is so green here," Conley said of his visit to the Volunteer State.Conley said that he grew up in Utah, played football at Southern Methodist University and is a current resident of Dallas, Texas.Ledford said that she kept them well fed during their stay."I made him a couple of my big ol' homemade country meals and was delighted to see him enjoy all my food," Ledford said. "Now, Spencer is a big fella and boy can he eat!!"She noted that the menu featured some of her daughter's favorites.Conley shared his own delight at trying local favorites such as the soft drink Dr. Enuf and the key lime pie at Cootie Brown's in Johnson City.Edwards said she wanted to show Conley even more locations before time ran short. As a result, a visit to Beauty Spot on Unaka Mountain and other local attractions will wait for future visits.Edwards and Conley also attended the football game between the University of Tennessee Volunteers and the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 6. They enjoyed cheering on the Buccaneers – Edwards is an ETSU graduate – while attending the game.Conley said he enjoyed his visit to Knoxville, comparing the town to a smaller version of Austin, Texas.They also toured Erwin's historic buildings, had lunch at The Groovy Smoothie and toured the East Tennessee State University campus.The couple also ventured to Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. While they had hoped to visit Dollywood, they put Dolly Parton's theme park on a future to-do list. The couple said they enjoyed riding an alpine slide ride while in Sevier County."All in all, he had an absolute blast and was blown away by the beauty of our area," Edwards said.Ledford enjoyed serving as a tour guide and introducing Conley to Erwin."I gave him details about our wonderful town, the people who live here and how Jessica grew up," she said. "He thought Erwin was absolutely beautiful and he said it was a lot bigger than he imagined it to be."Ledford noted that Conley loved the mountains and the deer that gather every evening in her yard to eat food she puts out for them."He took so many pictures and videos of his trip to East Tennessee," Ledford said.Edwards also had an unexpected interruption during the visit due to her job requiring her to fly to Denver early on the morning of Monday, Sept. 8, and then back to Tennessee, all in one day, resulting in a very long day. Edwards left Tennessee at 5:30 a.m. and arrived back at 11:30 p.m.Conley mentioned that he loved his Tennessee visit and looks forward to future visits with his fiancée.In addition to meeting his future mother-in-law, Conley got to also meet his future father-in-law.Will Edwards spoke to The Erwin Record about his approval of his daughter's choice.A strong supporter of his daughter, Will Edwards continued to speak highly of her. "Awesome is an understatement with Jessica," he said. "She is awesome!"He also became a quick fan of Conley."At this time, I feel if I had hand-picked Jess a man, Spencer would have been the one," he said. "He is a really good man. We had lots of fun while they were here."Edwards said that his future son-in-law got a small sample of the best of East Tennessee."He is a caring young man, and he treats Jessica with the utmost respect," Edwards added. "He's not afraid or ego too big to show affection to Jess in front of her dad and mom. Respectful affection."I really feel that they both have been lucky enough to find their soulmate in each other," he concluded.Ledford noted that she was also impressed with Conley."I had a wonderful time getting to know Spencer in person," Ledford said. "He is a very nice young gentleman with a great, outgoing, positive personality."She described him as kind, courteous and respectful."He always opens the door for ladies to enter first," she said. "Plus, he opens car doors, too."Ledford added, "He was everything Jessica had described plus more. I could not be happier for both of them."She also came away impressed that Conley loves to talk and is easy to talk to."I like to talk and it's nice to have a sensible conversation with an intelligent, polite young man who doesn't just sit there like a knot on a log looking at me," she said."I have prayed for years that God would bless Jessica with a good young man whom she can marry, raise a family with and remain happily married to until death do they part," Ledford said.Before the couple made their way to Tri-Cities Regional Airport for their flights to Dallas, with a layover in Charlotte, North Carolina, the couple planned to stop at Steel Rails Coffee House in downtown Erwin for an invigorating beverage ahead of their flight."I wish they would have been able to stay longer, but hopefully they will be coming back soon," Ledford said. "I am just thanking God every day because it is such a joy to see my daughter being treated so well by a young man."The couple are hoping to return to Unicoi County for another visit in October to see the fall beauty the region offers.