Annie Fern Berry

Annie Fern Berry, 97, died Monday, June 30, 2014, at an Abilene nursing center. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 3, at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church officiated by Dr. Jeff Reid, Bro. Jack Ridlehoover and Rev. Stan Allcorn. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park, 5750 Hwy 277 South, directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. The family will receive friends at a visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, at the funeral home. Annie Fern was born May 21, 1917 to Mae (Smith) Jones and Fletcher Jones in Linden in Cass County, Texas. The family moved to the Merkel area in 1920 when she was three years of age. She received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Education from Hardin-Simmons University. She was a teacher for 30 years, first in Snyder, Colorado City and Anson, and moved to Abilene in 1958. The last 23 years of her teaching career were in Abilene. Fern was a member of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school and was involved in many church ministries and active in Primetimers. She was also a member of Texas State Teachers Assn. as well as Abilene Teachers Assn. Fern enjoyed children and was always interested in following the lives of all she had taught. She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Edger Lewis; her parents, Mae and Fletcher Jones of Merkel; a brother, Truett Jones; and a sister Alva Grace Rose. Survivors include a niece, Sharon Potts Weaver and husband Carl of Abilene; a nephew, Jerry Jones and wife Twyla of Hot Springs, Arkansas; three great-nephews; four great-great-nephews and one great-great-niece. Memorials may be sent to Pioneer Drive Baptist Church Arise & Build Fund, 701 S. Pioneer Drive, Abilene, TX 79605; Love & Care Ministries, 233 Fannin St., Abilene, TX 79603; Ben Richey Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 6839, Abilene, TX 79608; or the donor’s charity of choice.