Fern Ella Bissell

Fern Ella Plant was born in Arcadia, Nebraska on March 19, 1935 to Irl and Carrie Plant. She had three sisters, Irlene Williams, Inez Greer and Bonnie Lopez. Their family later moved and settled in Oregon. Fern graduated from Gresham Union High School in 1952. She also attended Cascadia College in North Portland, Oregon. Fern worked for many years as a Teller at 1st National Bank of Oregon in Gresham, Oregon.

In 1956, Fern met the love of her life, Max LeRoy Bissell, born in Corning, Iowa. They were married on May 4, 1957 in Stevenson, Washington. Their first home was in Corbett, Oregon. They were happily married for 66 years, living most of those years on a small farm in Boring, Oregon.

Fern was an excellent seamstress and enjoyed sewing for herself, family and friends. She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting and quilting. She had a passion for gardening flowers and vegetables; she canned beans, corn, beets, pickles, peaches, pears, apricots and jams. Fern loved jigsaw puzzles and doing the daily crossword and word search in the newspaper. She loved playing board games with her family. Fern was a member of Pleasant Home Community Church and was involved in numerous church activities; she had a passion for children and women’s ministries and sang in the choir. She loved to travel and visit family and friends; she especially loved going to the Oregon Coast. Her favorite word was “Joy”.

Fern leaves behind a legacy of love and friendship. She is survived by her adoring husband, Max Bissell of Boring, OR; children, Pam Bund of Boring, OR, Mike Bissell of Boring, OR, Cindy Riggs (Gregg) of Sumner, WA, Lorraine Jensen (Dave) of Cameron Park, CA, and Melanie Wilber (Kevin) of Orting, WA; her two sisters, Inez Greer of Portland, OR and Bonnie Lopez of Phoenix, AZ; her loving grandchildren, Dawn, Tawnya (Andrew), Erika (Adam), Lacey (Robert), TJ (Irma), Heather, Sara, Silas, Kayla (Josh) and Karinne; as well as her great-grandchildren, Bradley, Brandon and Raegan.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Fern on Friday, September 22, 2023 at 11:00 am at Pleasant Home Community Church in Gresham, Oregon. Fern will be laid to rest at Mt. View-Corbett Pioneer Cemetery in Corbett, Oregon.