Fern L. Campbell

Fern L. Campbell, nee Walker, of Steelville, MO, was born on Sunday, June 20, 1926 in Steelville, MO to James Arnold Walker and Zula Amanda Walker, nee Farrar. She passed away on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at Steelville Senior Living Center at the age of 97 years, 9 months and 29 days.
Fern was the middle of five children, raised in Steelville, MO in a small two story house on the farm her grandparents, James and Lula Walker, owned. She walked 5 miles (round trip) to Liberty School and later graduated from Steelville High School in the Class of 1944. Upon graduation, Fern went to work in the office at Ramco Piston Ring in St. Louis. She then went to work for McQuay Norris during World War II and worked there until the war ended and the plant closed. Fern returned to Steelville where she married the love of her life, Edward Lee Campbell, on September 29, 1945, by Rev. Sam Roper and to this union a daughter, Donna, was born. Shortly after they were married, they moved to St. Louis and both worked for Wagner Electric. In 1953, they returned to Steelville and Fern worked for Brown Shoe Company as a Commissary Clerk for the Stripping Department until May 8, 1987 when she retired after 23 years.
Fern had accepted the Lord and was baptized early in life at Liberty Methodist Church in Steelville, MO and later attended the Steelville Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed helping people; she was the treasurer of Liberty Cemetery for over 40 years and volunteered with her sisters doing mending at Gibbs Care Center. She enjoyed camping, fishing, writing letters, labeling items, doing embroidery, quilting, and playing card games like Pinochle, Canasta and Skip-Bo. Fern enjoyed going with Ed to lunch at Golden Echos and Spare Rib on Friday nights. She was known for having counters full of food to offer visitors and would freeze pies so she could have something handy. Most of all, Fern loved her family and spending time with them. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend.
She was preceded in death by her husband Edward Campbell; parents James and Zula Walker; parents-in-law Francis and Margaret Campbell; siblings Woodrow (Edna) Walker, Wilma (Fred) McCoy, Betty (Jay) Garms and Bill (Dorothy) Walker; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Everett (Fae) Campbell, Glenn (Sibyl) Campbell, Vivian (Henry) Slovensky, Jane (Les) Gray, Delmar Campbell, Mary (Gerald) Stephens, Kenneth Campbell and James (Fern) Campbell; son-in-law Darel James; nephews Kenneth Campbell, Thomas Slovensky and David Stephens.
Fern is survived by her daughter Donna (Doug) Lane of St. James, MO; grandchildren Melissa (Dale) Riley of St. James, MO and Bradley (Kirsteen) James of Wentzville, MO; step grandchildren Daren (Juli) James of Columbia, MO, Kimberly (Scott) Bartle of St. James, MO and Kevin Lane of Rogersville, MO; great grandchildren Trey and Caleb Riley both of St. James, MO, Madelyn, Katelyn and Makenzie James all of Wentzville, MO; step great grandchildren Daniel (Andrea) James and Brianne James both of Columbia, MO; great great step granddaughter Everleigh James; other step grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Visitation was from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM on Sunday, April 21, 2024 at Hutson Funeral Home in Steelville, MO. Funeral Service was at 11:00 AM on Monday, April 22, 2024 at Hutson Funeral Home in Steelville, MO with Rev. Stephen Brubaker and Pastor Doug Lane officiating. The service was livestreamed on Hutson Funeral Home in Steelville, MO's Facebook Page. Burial was at Liberty Cemetery, Steelville, MO. Memorials were suggested to Liberty Cemetery, Steelville, MO.
Arrangements under the direction of Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, MO.
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