Fern M. Thompson

July 26, 1921 - October 19, 2015

Mrs. Fern Marie (Hale) Thompson of Willow Springs, passed away on Monday, October 19, 2015 while at Willow Care Nursing Home in Willow Springs. Born on July 26, 1921 in Hebron, Missouri to William and Edna (White) Hale, she was 94 years old. Fern was a graduate of Willow Springs High School, Class of 1940. On January 20, 1945, she married her grade school sweetheart, Harold Thompson, in West Plains, Missouri. Fern and Harold celebrated fifty-one years of marriage together. Fern worked many different jobs during her lifetime. She opened her own cafe in Willow Springs shortly after graduating from high school and later worked for the Missouri State Highway Department. While raising her family, she worked as a cook for the Willow Springs School System. Fern and her husband later owned and operated the Locker Plant in Willow Springs where she and her husband worked side by side before they decided to sell. After the Locker Plant was sold she worked for many years at Faust Greenhouse. Fern had a "green thumb" and enjoyed raising flowers and putting together beautiful floral arrangements. Her family will long remember the wonderful Sunday dinners she would prepare, especially those with her large home made dinner rolls. Fern last attended church at Dry Creek Baptist Church. She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends. Mrs. Thompson was preceded in death by her father, William Spence Hale; her mother, Edna Winifred Hale; her brother Byron Hale; her half sister Elsie Hamilton; and her daughter, Beverly Sue Thompson Roberts. She is survived by her son Ken Thompson and his wife Judy of Black Mountain, North Carolina; her son-in-law Clifford Roberts of Willow Springs; grandsons, Matt Roberts and his wife Aaron of Willow Springs; Andy Roberts and his wife Mary of Willard Missouri; Stuart Thompson of Varnville, South Carolina; and her granddaughter; Kelly Roberts of Springfield, Missouri. Numerous great grandchildren further survive. A graveside funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 22, 2015 at 11:00 AM at Howell Memorial Park Cemetery in Pomona. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 21st from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Willow Funeral Home, located at 106 E. Third Street in Willow Springs.