Fern Harkins

Fern Elizabeth Harkins, 93, of Coffeyville, died Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at Windsor Place Care Center, Coffeyville, Kansas. Fern was born November 30, 1915 at Wauneta, Kansas to Will A. Winchell and Lula Jane Doty Winchell. She grew up in Wauneta and attended high school in Cedar Vale, Kansas, where she graduated in 1934. Fern then graduated from Bartlesville Beauty College, Bartlesville, Oklahoma. She worked as a beauty operator for five years after graduation. Fern married OliverBud Harkins on October 13, 1940 at Webb City, Missouri. The couple owned a dairy farm that they operated together until 1971. Fern lived in South Coffeyville, Oklahoma, moving to Coffeyville in 1997. She was a Windsor Place resident for the past two years. She was a member of South Coffeyvilles United Methodist Church, where she served as President of the United Methodist Women and was Assistant Sunday School Superintendent. Survivors are her three daughters, Mary Malone and her husband, Neil of Coffeyville, Beatrice Thompson and her husband, Raymond of Freistatt, Missouri and Janie Tieaskie and her husband, Joe of Chino Valley, Arizona; one sister, Rosemary Marshall of Tyler, Texas; six grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held 1 p.m., Friday, June 5, 2009 at Coffeyvilles Fairview Cemetery with Pastor Steve Posey officiating. Service and interment are under the direction of Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, Coffeyville. Visitation for Fern will be from Noon until 8 p.m., Thursday at the funeral home, with family receiving guests from 6-8p.m. Family suggests that those who wish honor Fern by donating to Harry Hynes Hospice or the South Coffeyville United Methodist Church, and all donations may be left at the funeral home.