FERN ELIZABETH SMITH

Fern E. Smith, 91, died at 9:56 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at Parkview Whitley Hospital Emergency Room. Born on January 23, 1917 in Whitley County, she was the daughter of Earl and Lena (Schmidt) Berry.A lifetime resident of Whitley County, she graduated from Coesse High School with the Class of 1935. On January 1, 1937, she married Robert J. Smith in Whitley County. She worked for Blue Bell factory, Riverside Dairy, Montgomery Wards, Green Thumb and the Whitley County Council on Aging, retiring at the age of 86 in 2002. She was a member of Oak Grove Church of God.Survivors include 1 son, Gary (Deborah) Smith of Columbia City; 4 grandchildren, Thad Smith of Fort Wayne, IN, Amanda Smith of Pierceton, IN, Jacob and Joshua Smith both of Columbia City; 1 cousin, Hildreth Keiser of North Webster, IN. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Robert J. Smith in 1982, a sister, Ona Helfrich and Brother, Robert "Bobby" Berry.Visitation is 5-9 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City, IN. Funeral service is 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 22, 2008 at the funeral home with Pastor Stephen C. Johnson of Oak Grove Church of God officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove (Compton) Cemetery, Columbia City, IN. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given in Mrs. Smith's memory the Alzheimer's Association. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. To send family condolences or sign the guest register book, please visit www.demoneygrimes.com