Fern Reed

Fern Marie Reed, 77, the daughter of Cecil and Irene (Bisbee) Figgins, was born Aug. 21, 1946, at the family farmstead near Burr Oak, Kansas. She died Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, at the Brodstone Healthcare Hospital in Superior, Nebraska.

A lifelong resident of Jewell County, Fern grew up in the Burr Oak area. She received her education attending the Burr Oak schools, graduating with the class of 1965. She was united in marriage with Merl Reed on July 17, 1965, at the Methodist Church in Burr Oak. This union was blessed with two sons, Michael and Marcus. Fern enjoyed working on the family farm with her husband as well as raising cattle. She continued working the farm until her death and raised cattle until 2021.

In her leisure time she enjoyed square dancing with her husband. Fern and Merl enjoyed making memories by attending square dances with close lifelong friends. Fern laughed easily and enjoyed playing pranks on all of her loved ones. Any get-together at the Reed farm included playing cards. She enjoyed pitch and rummy. Fern was a good cook, candy maker and baker. She was known for her delicious cakes that she made for more than 45 years. Fern worked more than 30 years for Mankato Livestock Inc. She was always busy sewing and raising a garden.

Left to keep her memory are her sons, Michael and wife, Amy; and Marcus and wife, Debbie. Also surviving are three grandsons, Derk, Jake and Jaden Reed; sisters, Charlotte Pletcher, Pauline Mills, Twila Morris, Marilyn Warneking and Joan Pate; and a sister-in-law, Karen Figgins; as well as numerous other relatives and friends.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Merl; brothers, Franklin, Glen and Carl Figgins; and sisters, Lorene and Carolyn.

Services were at 9 a.m., Monday, Dec. 4, at Williams Funeral Home in Red Cloud with the Rev. Dan Benedict

officiating.

Interment was at the Burr Oak Cemetery.