FERN MARIE ELDRIDGE CANTEES passed peacefully on July 2, 2019. She was born September 28, 1930, in Freeburn, Kentucky. Fern relocated with her family to Groveport, Ohio, before eventually moving with family back to Williamson, West Virginia, where she ran a successful garden center business. She then retired to Venice, Florida, with her husband Harry, to whom she was married for sixty-three years. Fern’s life always revolved around God, family and her church. She taught Sunday school, sang in the church choir and regularly visited the sick and elderly in nursing homes. She made sure her children attended church and raised them to follow the same principles she lived by - kindness, humility and giving to others. She had a great heart for animals and always had a pet that she loved and adored. A very patriotic woman, Fern loved her country and always lived the values for which our country stands. She is survived by her children, Sharon Sparks (Carl), Michael Deskins (Michelle), Dee Anna Grimm (Steve), Kathy Robinson (Jerry) and Stephen Cantees (Janet); grandchildren Michael Sparks, Angela Sparks, Ashley Sparks, Craig Deskins, Jason Deskins, Michael Eisenhut, Eric Grimm, Tara Culp, Stephanie Cantees and Lyndsey Cantees; her brother Elmo "Mode" Eldridge (Betty), sister Willadean Lambert and sister-in-law Jeanette McCoy; as well as, numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and church friends. Fern was preceded in death by her loving husband Harry Cantees; grandson Shawn Robinson; parents William and Myrtle Eldridge (Elkins); sister and brother-in-law Juanita and Sylvan Collins and brother and sister-in-law James and Tiny Eldridge; father-in-law and mother-in-law George and Anna Cantees; brothers-in-law Sam, Tom, Johnny, Kamal, Cullen Cantees and Paul McCoy; sister-in-law Adeba Cantees.Visitation will be held at the Kays-Ponger and Uselton Funeral Home at 1935 South Tamiami Trail, Venice, Florida 34293 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 6, with the funeral immediately following. A graveside service will be held at Gulf Pines Memorial Park located at 2401 Englewood Road, Englewood, Florida 34223. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Tidewell Hospice, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, Florida 34238 or you may contribute to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation (rettsyndrome.org) in memory of Fern Cantees for Stephanie Cantees. For those who are interested in sharing a memory or cherished photo with the family, you may do so by visiting www.dignitymemorial.com and entering "Fern Cantees" in the search field. Your condolences and kind words will be compiled into a memory book for the family, which will provide comfort for the family for years to come.
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