Fern A Powers

Fern Anna Talbot was delivered into this world by her Grandmother on September 24, 1930 at her parent’s home in Dixon, Montana. Her parents were Boyd Leonard Talbot and Alice Dale Talbot. At the age of 11, her family moved to San Diego, California where she graduated from High School. Following graduation, she attended college in Illinois. She left this world for Heaven on June 15, 2019 at 6:50 am in Olympia, Washington at the age of 88 years and 9 months.

Fern is survived by her sister June Wolfe of Salisbury, MD; daughter Dale Ann Sielczak (Jerzy) of Nevada, grandchildren: Geoffrey, Robin, Anthony; great-grandchildren: Fiona and Carter; son Boyd Eugene Powers (Pamela) of Olympia, grandchildren: Becky, (Mark), and Craig; great-grandchildren: Savannah and Gabriel; daughter Verna June Kirsch of Olympia; daughter Bonnie Kay Powers Brunner of Olympia, grandchildren: Kelly Rae, preceded in death Rafal Jay, great-grandchildren: Rae Anna, Jordan, McKayla, and Ian; daughter Kelly Lane McWhorter (Mark), grandchild Russell, great-grandchildren: Jane and Paige; daughter Zelda Clune of South Dakota, grandchildren: Steven, Peter, Victoria, Ryan, and Oliver.

Occupation: Included driving a school bus in Washington for over 20 years, working for Thurston County Treasurer; serving on the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Awards: International Seaman & Refugees Mosaic Missions Award 1980; Cambodian Southern Baptist Fellowship, Bridges of God Award, Tacoma, WA 1980, The Vietnamese Community of Thurston County Appreciation Award 2015; First Southern Baptist Church, Canada Thanks & Appreciation Award for service in Vacation Bible School; and Heritage Award from the NW Baptist Historical Society, NW Baptist Convention, Oregon 2014.

Fern had four defining interests. First and foremost, above all else was her relationship with God. Her love for the Lord was the driving force behind everything she was involved in. Second was family, she loved and cared deeply for her children, their children, and their children’s children. She desired us all to embrace the Love of God, to grow in Christian values, and to live a life pleasing to the Lord. She taught us by example. Third, Fern was passionate about her Native American Heritage. She wanted her children to know about their ancestry. She spent countless hours researching and collecting information on her native lineage. She made numerous trips to Montana to visit her birthplace and to Fort Peck Indian Reservation in search of ancestors and living relatives. Fourth, Fern loved nature and the outdoors, although she wasn’t that fond of deserts and saltwater beaches. She climbed to Camp Muir on Mt. Rainier three times and also made the trek to the rim of Mt. St. Helens. She loved road trips with her family to Alaska and last year to Montana. She loved the mountains, trees and wildlife that God made. She would name all of the wild flowers and we stopped often to take their pictures.

Services will be at Westwood Baptist Church, 333 Kaiser Road NW, Olympia, WA on June 29th at 2:00 PM with Pastor Dan Panter officiating. A potluck reception will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making donations to “Ferns Mission Fund” or “Ferns Disaster Relief Fund”, paid to McKenzie Road Baptist Church, 215 McKenzie Rd SE, Olympia, WA.

(Mailing address P.O. Box 12178, Olympia, WA 98508)

Services are under the direction and care of Mills & Mills Funeral Home, Tumwater, WA.