Fern Katherine Jackson's Obituary
Fern Katherine Jackson, was born August 18, 1918 in Ottumwa, Iowa, the eldest of four girls, to Julian and Bertha Campbell. Fern graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1936, where she was a member of the Glee Club. She married Charles Alexander Lewis in 1940 and had 3 sons, Charles Jr, Terrence and Barry. Together they moved their family to California around 1960. Fern and Charles spent 6 more happy years together until his untimely death in October of 1966. After Charles’s death, Fern continued to raise her youngest son, Barry, alone, until she met and married Lewis Jackson in May of 1974. Lewis passed away in October of 1991. Fern was a very strong woman, and continued to live alone until May of 2010. She was 91 years young. Fern spent the last 3 ½ years at Accent Gardens Home Health Care, due to advanced dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. She enjoyed listening to music and dancing around in her home, as well as keeping it spotless. Fern liked to travel and especially enjoyed a long Sunday car ride. She enjoyed her time with her grandchildren and spent every holiday with her son Barry and his family. Fern worked at Kaiser Hospital and Parkland Convalescent Hospital until retirement at the age of 72. Fern departed this life on Monday, October 7, 2013 at the age of 95 years young, at Accent Gardens Home Health Care. Fern is preceded in death by her son, Charles Jr, first husband, Charles Lewis, second husband, Lewis Jackson and sister, Dorcas Edmondson. Fern is survived by sons Barry Lewis of Reno, Nevada and Terrence Lewis, of Hornbrook, California, 5 grandchildren, 3 nieces, her sisters JoAnne Payne, of Sacramento, California, Janis Mortimer, of San Leandro, California and a host of grand and great-grand nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
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