Edna "Bernice" Quinn

1921 - 2016

Edna "Bernice" Quinn

April 26, 1921 - May 26, 2016

Farmersville

Edna Bernice Quinn was born to Verna Marion and Anna Mercedes (Lynch) Searcy on April 2, 1921 in Prague, Oklahoma. She was called to her Heavenly home on May 26, 2016 at the age of 95. She was the second child in a family of thirteen children. She attended local schools while also assisting with the farm chores along with her siblings and parents. She especially enjoyed working outside with her father until the boys in the family became old enough to take on part of the work load.

The family attended church regularly and the children were instilled in their early years with love, reverence and faith in God. This legacy became the foundation that has guided them throughout their lives. Bernice was no exception and faithfully attended church services until a week before her passing. She was a member and supporter of the Victory Holiness Church for many years. A very industrious person, she could not tolerate idleness and seemed to always be busy with some project. She believed in providing for the future needs of her family and loved quilting, sewing, canning fruit and vegetables, gardening and keeping her house in a neat orderly condition. She was an invaluable asset to her husband, especially on the farm.

Bernice was married to her childhood sweetheart, Lynvil Arley Quinn on November 6, 1937, after he had first noticed her playing on the school playground and admired her pretty curls. The marriage endured for more than sixty-three years until his passing in 2001.

The first twelve years of their married life, the couple farmed in central Oklahoma. After surviving the Dust Bowl, Great Depression, drought and hail storms which decimated the cotton and peanut crops, Lynvil and Bernice decided to sell their farming operation, they migrated to Farmersville. California arriving on Sunday, September 11, 1949 with their six children and worldly possessions. The family of eight made the trip in a 1941 International pickup and wooden framed tarpaulin canopy with the speedometer set for forty miles per hour for the entire trip. They worked at farm jobs for some time and made four trips to Oregon from 1950 to 1953 for summer work and spent November 1950 through May 1951 in Huntsville, Arkansas. They settled down permanently in Farmersville in 1953, where Bernice worked in packing houses for several years. She later worked for Bailey Manufacturing Company until 1969 when she retired and dedicated her time to homemaking and raising three foster children for the next several years. In later years she enjoyed traveling with her husband and attending church.

In addition to her parents and husband, Lynvil, she was predeceased by three brothers and four sister, Arthur Searcy of Paden Oklahoma, Melvin Searcy of Blanchard Oklahoma, Elmer Searcy of Cherokee Village Arkansas, Hazel Dibler of Shawnee Oklahoma, Stella Quinn of Stroud Oklahoma, Veda Dodson of Blanchard Oklahoma and Infant Yuvonne Searcy.

Bernice is survived by six children, Shiela Barnette of Monticello Arkansas, Edna "Marie" Renfro of Farmersville, Arlene Forrester and husband Bob of Eunice New Mexico, Nelda Carley of Ivanhoe, Lela Carley and husband Talbert, Glen R. Quinn and wife Laurna all of Visalia; two brothers and three sisters, Edward Searcy of Midwest City Oklahoma, Herman Searcy of Shawnee Oklahoma., Anna Bell Allen of Visalia, Willie Jo Johnson of Sapulpa Oklahoma and Darlene Boyd of Farmersville. She also leaves behind twenty four grandchildren, fifty seven great grandchildren and fifty five great-great grandchildren as well as a host of friends.

Bernice also raised three foster children Elizabeth Story, (deceased) Evelyn Rios of Green Forest Arkansas, and Barbara Alman of Visalia.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 2, 2016 at 10:00 am at Evans Miller Guinn Chapel, 425 North Kaweah Avenue, Exeter, CA 93221. Visitation will be Wednesday June 1, 2016 from 2:00 to 6:00 pm at the chapel. Officiating will be Pastor Marvin Dodson and Brother Dereklee Garman of Victory Holiness Church. Interment will follow at the Exeter District Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.evansmillerguinnchapel.com. Services entrusted to Evans Miller Guinn Chapel.