FERN LEELLA WOOLLUMS JEANES

FERN LEELLA WOOLLUMS JEANES, THE DAUGHTER OF FLOYD AND BLANCHE WOOLLUMS, WAS BORN SOUTH OF MOUNT AYR, IA ON AUGUST 28, 1924 AND PASSED AWAY ON JANUARY 17, 2009 AT THE LUCAS COUNTY HEALTH CENTER AT CHARITON, IA AFTER A BRIEF ILLNESS.

FERN WAS THE ELDEST OF THREE CHILDREN, SHARING THE FAMILY HOME WITH SISTER, JULIA, AND BROTHER, AVERY.  SHE WENT TO SCHOOL IN TINGLEY, IA AND GRADUATED IN 1942. SHE WORKED FOR A SHORT WHILE AT RESTAURANTS IN CRESTON, IA AND MOUNT AYR.  SHE WAS MARRIED TO JAMES ROBERT “BOBBY” JEANES ON NOVEMBER 2, 1946 AFTER HE RETURNED FROM WORLD WAR II. TO THIS UNION WAS BORN ONE SON, BOBBY RAY.

FERN SPENT THE MAJORITY OF HER LIFE AS A HOUSEWIFE, RIDING ALONG WITH BOBBY WHEREVER HE WENT. IF THE TRUCK LEFT TO GO TO HATFIELD TO CHECK THE COWS, YOU CAN BET FERN WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, PREPARED TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE GATES FOR BOBBY AS HE DROVE.  SHE ENJOYED ATTENDING HORSE SHOWS AND RODEOS WITH THE FAMILY ALL OVER IOWA AND NORTHERN MISSOURI. RODEO TRAVELS TOOK HER AS FAR AS HELENA, MT TO THE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL RODEO FINALS.  FERN ENJOYED MEETING UP WITH THE LADIES AT ‘CLUB’ ONCE A MONTH TO TALK ABOUT THE BIG HAPPENINGS GOING ON IN MOUNT AYR AND REDDING.

AFTER BOBBY PASSED AWAY IN MAY OF 1999, SHE REMAINED AT HOME UNITL JUNE OF 2007 WHEN AFTER A FALL SHE MOVED TO CHARITON TO BE CLOSER TO HER FAMILY.  FERN HAD NEVER LIVED IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX BEFORE, BUT THOROUGHLY ENJOYED HER TIME AT SOUTHGATE APARTMENTS IN CHARITON WITH ALL OF THE OTHER ELDERLY RESIDENTS. SHE WAS FAMOUS FOR THE ANGEL FOOD CAKES AND CHERRY DELIGHT DESSERT SHE ALWAYS BROUGHT TO THE MONTHLY POTLUCKS.

FERN IS SURVIVED BY HER SON, BOBBY RAY AND WIFE TAMMY AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN, TRENTON RAY AND TRACY LYNNE JEANES OF CHARITON, IA; BROTHER AVERY WOOLLUMS AND WIFE ALICE OF COLORADO SPRINGS, CO; SISTER JULIA SANDEFUR OF MOLINE, IL; NIECE, LINDA EMMONS OF KISSISSIMEE, FL; BROTHER AND SISTERS-IN-LAW, DOROTHY AND GEORGE SAVILLE OF MOUNT AYR, IA; PATRICIA AND BILL HUNT OF BLOCKTON, IA; AND CHARLIE AND VICKIE JEANES OF MOUNT AYR ALONG WITH MANY OTHER DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

SERVICES WERE HELD AT WATSON-ARMSTRONG FUNERAL HOME IN MOUNT AYR ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2009, WITH REV. SUSAN THOMAS OFFICIATING. CASKETBEARS WERE; TIM SAVILLE, GARY HOSFIELD, DAN QUICK, JEFF QUICK, TOM KELLY AND STEVE TAYLOR.

FERN WAS LAID TO REST IN THE REDDING CEMETERY.