Fern graduated from Oakwood High School in 1941 and continued to work in the local community as a farm cook. In 1943, after reaching the age of 18, she traveled to Wichita Kansas to work at Boeing Aircraft as a wing riveter. While working at Boeing she met her future husband, Jay Newbill.
Jay and Fern were married on July 15, 1945 on her parent’s farm in Oakwood, Oklahoma. After the war, they moved to Colorado Springs and began a family. Fern worked as a homemaker raising her children Jimmy, Ditha and Ray. She also provided day care services for many years. Fern was an accomplished seamstress and pie maker. She also had a salad for every occasion.
Fern was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Jay and her oldest son Jimmy. Fern is survived by Jimmy’s children Christina Newbill of Colorado Springs, Bonnie Bonser (Jay) of Colorado Springs and Matthew Newbill of Denver, Colorado; Ditha Hutchinson (David) of Winnemucca, Nevada and Ray Newbill (Toni) of Golden, Colorado, 8 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters Juanita Williams of Canton, Oklahoma and Maxine Hort of Spearville, Kansas, 13 nieces and nephews.
Viewing will be Thursday, May 17 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Swan Law Mortuary 501 N. Cascade Avenue in Colorado Springs. A celebration of Fern’s life will be held Friday May 18, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel at Memorial Gardens Cemetery, located at 3825 Airport Road in Colorado Springs, internment will follow. A reception will follow.
