Fenney Payne Derden

What can even be said to truly capture the memory of a man who lived his life so fully and honorably? He was a true hero in every sense of the word.
Fenney Payne Derden came to this earth June 26th, 1930 in Anson, Texas the youngest of 5 boys born to parents Doss James Derden and Pruda Kay Derden (Lundy). He grew up on a cotton farm in Jayton, Texas during the Great Depression where he learned the gift of hard work hoeing his daddy's cotton fields from dawn to dusk then often returning home to do his school work by coal oil lamps (as there was no rural electricity nor plumbing until he turned 15). "I had to have 2 coal oil lamps, one on each side of my work so as not to throw any shadows, and boy was it HOT!"
During those years children were allowed to quit school after completing the 8th grade. When his father asked if he too wanted to quit as his 4 brothers had, he refused telling his dad that he loved school, loved learning and wanting to graduate from high school. He excelled in school, skipping a grade and graduating at the age of 17. He particularly loved english and wrote several novels and many many poems over his lifetime.
Fenney's brothers: Armet (Al), JD (Jake), Glenwood, and Nathan (Mutt) were much older than he, and 3 of the 4 served in the military including overseas during WWII. He recalled many times hearing his dear mother in her room at night crying and praying for the safe return of her boys, and miraculously they each did. Fenney idolized his brothers so he chose to follow their example by enlisting in the army at the tender age of 19. "My poor mother about came apart" as the other 3 were now serving in Korea. Almost immediately he too was called to Korea where he fought on the front lines for a year and a half enduring many horrors that would leave him with PTSD for the rest of his life. Although he was a humble man and rarely mentioned it, he was a recipient of the Purple Heart after being injured by an incoming mortar which left him with shrapnel, a bum knee and severe hearing loss in one ear.
Once he returned home from Korea (as did his other brothers!) he enrolled in Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas to take advantage of the GI bill. It was there that he met the love of his life, Dawn Jeanette Phillips, his "steel magnolia". She was enrolled in the nursing program and he in agriculture program. At this point he was in the army reserves and chose to transfer to the Air Force. He soon received orders to head to Japan so he and Jeanette married and he went ahead of her to secure housing for them. Jeanette then made the trip to Japan alone aboard a troop ship taking 2 weeks to arrive and spending Christmas at sea.
Fenney and Jeanette would subsequently travel the world enjoying and experiencing many countries and building a family along the way. Daphne Renee Derden (McMillan) born in Alice Springs, Australia in 1958; Marjorie Kay Derden (Smith) born in Sacramento, California in 1960; James William Derden, born in Wiesbaden, Germany in 1963; and Dawn Caroline Derden (Cooper) born in Ukiah, California in 1965. After the birth of their last child Fenney was then sent to Viet Nam for a year forcing him to leave his steel magnolia at home with their 4 small children. Jeanette worked tirelessly to bring a sense of normalcy to their lives in such a way that their children never feared for their father, although she would endure many sleepless nights never knowing if or when he would return. She was truly a "steel magnolia" in every way.
Upon returning from Viet Nam, Fenney and Jeanette and their children were sent to England, where they lived happily for 4 years during the "cultural decade" of the 60's. Then once again, after returning stateside, Fenney received new a new assignment to Mountain Home Air Force base in Idaho, where he prepared for 6 months to return to civilian life. All in all, Fenney served 2 years in the Army, an additional 20 years in the Air Force in active duty and another 10 years in ready reserve before being honorably discharged as a Master Sergeant in February of 1981. He was true blue and a patriot in every way!
After retirement Fenney and family moved to GrandView, Idaho and Fenney went to work for Simplot Soil Builders where he remained for the next decade as well as continuing to serve country and community as a member of the Owyhee County Posse. There they settled into civilian life loving the community, the people and the outdoors. He and Jeanette had enjoyed camping with their children all over the world and would continue doing so in the surrounding mountains and valleys, camping and fishing with Fenney often taking their son on many a hunting trip. As does happen, one by one their children began to grow up and graduate, moving away and starting their own families.
In 1983, once again he and Jeanette made the decision to relocate, this time to Missouri, where they settled in Cassville. Fenney went to work there for the ASCS office until retiring from the private sector, then they moved one final time to Fairview, Missouri where he and Jeanette enjoyed their retirement years in the country; not too far from family, grandchildren and dear friends. Unfortunately Fenney lost his steel magnolia, April 2, 2016 and deeply mourned her passing, never quite able to bear the weight of her absence. Then due to his failing health he returned, fittingly, to Texas from whence he came in December of 2021, moving in with his eldest daughter and her husband. Fenney was finally able to rejoin Jeanette on Easter Sunday, April 20th, 2025.
As alluded to in the memorial quote above, Fenney was a very positive person and had an amazing sense of humor. As he related to his children years before "I made a promise to God that if I made it out of Korea alive I would try my best to be happy." Relatives and friends alike were the recipients of many practical jokes and he loved a really well told joke, often sharing them via text with his grandchildren and friends. He was also a Facebook junkie and much to everyone's amusement spent many a day in Facebook jail! He had an outstanding memory and as such was a gifted story teller! As the much younger of 5 boys he was often left to sit alone with the adults at family gatherings soaking in THEIR stories! He would say "I loved sitting quietly and listening about their lives. Most of the time they would forget I was there, and boy did I learn a lot!" Those many stories, needless to say have been passed down.
Two side notes:
*Fenney's service in the military was exemplary and as such he received many awards and commendations. Thus he was offered the chance to advance in the Air Force by attending Officers Candidate School. He refused saying "it would require me to be away from my family too much and I wasn't willing to make that sacrifice."
*Fenney was also a devout christian and had read the bible many times. Thus when a controversial movie about the life of Christ was released in 2004 with an audience rating of R, he refused to watch it stating " I've already read the book!" He led his life by example, as we are all urged to do. God, family and country.
Fenney Payne Derden was preceded in death by both parents, all 4 brothers and his wife Dawn Jeanette Derden (Phillips). He is survived by their children Daphne Renee (Dee ) McMillan, Marjorie Kay (Marge) Smith, James William (Jim) Derden and Dawn Caroline Cooper, along with 12 grandchildren 2 of whom have joyfully met him on the other side and 24 great-grandchildren.
As Fenney stated near the end of his sojourn on the this earth, "I've lived a full and blessed life." And those who knew him were equally blessed!
Goodbye for now daddy (our hero)