Mary Elizabeth Fern

     Mary Elizabeth Fern was born on 7 September 1902 at Cle Elum, Kittitas County, Washington.² She was the daughter of James E Fern and Mary Ellen McCormick.
Donald Coonrod recalls: My mother, Mary, was the only girl in her family. She was born Sept 7, 1902 in Elum, Washington. Her parents had been invited to Washington by her uncle, Joe P. Fern, and his wife Ellie. Her father moved to Washington State in July, 1902 hoping to improve his health. However, he was injured in the mines and the family returned to Scammon about 1903. They lived for a time on the farm of John Fern Sr near Scammon and Carona, KS. My mother took a teaching degree and taught grade school in Corona. She then went to Tulsa, OK to business college and worked for a newspaper. She met and married my father, Clarence Coonrod, in Tulsa. They moved to Chicksaw, OK, and then to Oklahomas City. My sister Mary and brother John were both born in Oklahoma. The depression deepened, and my parents moved from Oklahoma to Anderson, Indiana hoping for better opportunities. My sisters Alice and Eileen were born in Indiana, as was I. My parents have resided in Richmond, Indiana for many years.³
The following appeared in the Scammon paper dated 30 April 1915: Miss Anna Quinn, Mary Fern and Messrs. John Lyon and Ed Coman attended the dance in Pittsburg Friday evening of last week.⁴

Mary was enumerated with James E Fern on the census of 22 March 1920 at Ross Township, Cherokee County, Kansas, as Mary Fern. She is a 19 year old single white female born in Kansas. Her father was born at sea and her mother was born in Pennsylvania.⁵
The following appeared in the Scammon paper dated 8 Nov 1897: The teacher, pupil and patrons of Murphy School, District 69, had a most enjoyable halloween party last week. At the close of the program a dainty lunch was served to about 50 guests, by the teacher, Miss Mary Ferns.⁶

Mary was enumerated with James E Fern on the census of 12 April 1930 at Scammon, Cherokee County, Kansas, . She is a single white female 26 years old and born in Kansas. Her father was born at sea and her mother was born in Pennsylvania. She works as a teacher in a public school.⁷
The following appeared in the Scammon paper dated 4 Feb 1931: Mary and Joe Fern of Tulsa, OK called long distance New Year's Eve to Mrs James Fern who underwent an operation Friday at Mt. Carmel hospital in Pittsburg.⁸

Mary Elizabeth Fern married Clarence Coonrod on 31 May 1931 at Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma.²

Mary Elizabeth Fern died on 19 January 1998 at Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana, at age 95.⁹
An obituary was in the Richmond newspaper: Mary E. Coonrod, 95, formerly of 707 S.W. First St., died Monday, Jan 19, 1998, at Heritage Regency. She was born Sept. 7, 1902, in Cle Elem, Wash., to James and Mary Ellen McCormick Fern and had lived in this area for the past 63 years. She earned an associate's degree from Kansas State Teacher's College, attended business college and worked for a newspaper in Tulsa, Okla. She taught fifth grade at Saint Mary School and was a member of Holy Family Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Sister Michael Mary of Abby of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, Conn., and Alice Mlekush of Helena, Mont; and two sons, John F. Coonrod of Kettering, Ohio and Dr. Donald Coonrod of Lexington, Ky. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence C. Coonrod, in 1991; a daughter, Eileen Gatz; and seven brothers. Prayer service will be at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Riggle-Waltermann Mortuary followed by Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Holy Family Church. Friends may call 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.⁹ She was buried on 21 January 1998 at Saint Mary Cemetery, Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana.⁹