Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Ferner

August 13, 1927 - February 17, 2017

Elizabeth (Betty) Jane Ferner nee Smith passed away in Rockwall, Texas on Friday, February 17, 2017. Betty was born in Akron, Ohio on August 13, 1927 to Helen and Stephen Smith. At the age of two, she moved to St. Louis, Mo. and attended Catholic schools with her two older sisters. She graduated from Nerinx Hall HS and attended Webster University. Betty worked as an operator at Bell Telephone and married the late Donald William Ferner at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church on June 18, 1949. Betty and Don moved to Spokane, Washington while he continued his service in the U.S. Air Force. Their oldest daughter, Karen Jean, was born in Washington and upon their return to St. Louis had three more daughters, Sally Ann, Deborah Louise, and Mary Elizabeth. Betty and Don built a home in South County and were very active in their church and daughter’s lives and sports. Betty loved playing bridge, bowling, socializing with friends and family, being a part of the St. Louis Campfire Girls Assoc., Mary Queen of the Universe Women’s Sodality and taking summer trips to Minnesota to fish. In 1969, Don was transferred to SE Missouri with Angelica Uniform Co. and they made their home in Willow Springs, Missouri. Betty and Don made numerous friends, became very active parishioners at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, were members of the Willow Springs Golf Club, the Willow Springs Outing Club, and began traveling to Walking Horse Assoc. competitive horse shows with their youngest daughters. Betty owned A & M Beauty Supply, was a census data collector, worked at the U. S. Forestry Service, volunteered at M.U.N.C.H., was a member of WS Study Club, and other various community organizations. Don passed away on January 1, 1998 and Betty continued her volunteer work, casino excursions, vacations and visits with her daughters and spouses, ten grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. During the summer of 2015 (due to poor health), Betty moved to Rockwall, Texas to Arbor House Assisted Living to be close to her two youngest daughters. Betty joined the Rockwall Newcomers and Friends, participated in many family celebrations, loved going to the show and out to eat and played cards & dominoes with anyone willing. There was no one in hearing distance that did not get to know Betty and enjoy her stories and feisty sense of humor. She is lovingly known by friends and family to always have a book tucked away in her purse, a little candy in a pocket, making Chex mix, and playing a wicked hand of 7-Card Stud. She will be sorely missed by her family and friends. Her earthly journey is complete and may the Lord lift her up on eagle’s wings. Betty was preceded in death by her husband Donald Ferner, parents Helen Smith McLean and Stephen Smith, her stepfather James McLean, sister Anita Regal, parents-in-law Clarence and Bernice Ferner, brothers-in-law Arnold Regal, Albert Vaughn and Jack Ferner, nephews Steve Regal and Greg Vaughn. Those left to mourn her passing are daughters Karen (James) Donelson of Spring, TX, Sally (Bill) Gooch of Conway, AR, Debbie Ferner of Rockwall, TX, and Mary (Walter) Wilmoth of Wylie, TX, grandchildren- Donald (Peyton) Gooch, Matt (Marsha) Gooch, Jeff (Jennifer) Gooch, Ryan (Rebecca) Donelson, Kim (Will) Holford, Julie (Chris) Pursch, Chris (Nicole) Gooch, Kelly Donelson, Lauren (Devin) McDowell, and Michael Donelson, 10 great-grandsons (plus 1 on the way), 2 great-granddaughters, her sister Marjorie Vaughn of Alton, IL, and brother-in-law Mike and (Jeanne) Ferner of St. Louis, MO, many nieces, nephews, and more friends than you can count. A funeral mass and celebration of Betty’s life will be held Saturday, April 1 at 11:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Willow Springs, Mo. Rest Haven Funeral Home in Rockwall, Texas and Willow Funeral Home in Willow Springs, MO are coordinating all arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations to any of the following would be gratefully accepted: • Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1050 West Business 60/63, Willow Springs, MO 65793 phone: (417) 469-2447 • MUNCH, 811 E Main St, Willow Springs, MO 65793 phone: (417) 469-3221 • Willow Springs Library, 214 N Harris St, Willow Springs, MO 65793 phone: (417) 469-3482 website http://wslibrary.webs.com