T. Ferne Bowersox was born April 18, 1916, in Fortescue, Mo., the first child of George E. and Grace M. Barnett Miller. Four brothers and two sisters became a part of her family. She graduated from Wakefield High School in 1934 and that fall began teaching in a one-room school in the Clay Center area. In the summers, she began taking classes at Bluemont Central College in Manhattan, now part of Kansas State University. In 1941, she attended Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky where she met Richard (Dick) B. Bowersox.

On Nov. 29, 1942, in Longford, Ferne and Dick were joined in marriage. She then joined Dick in his life-long calling to the ministry where they served for over fifty years in the United Methodist Church, in several Kansas communities.

In 1969 she returned to college, and in May of 1971, she graduated from Fort Hays State University with a degree in elementary education. Her career in education continued on as she taught in the Kansas communities of Jennings, Concordia, and Greensburg.

After retirement, she and Dick moved to Hutchinson, where they belonged to Trinity United Methodist Church. She was facilitator of the Koinonia Sunday School Class, and a member of the United Methodist Women, Steven Ministry, Al-Anon, and retired teachers organization. In 1996, they moved to Wesley Towers, where Ferne was involved in many of their activities, as well as continued involvement in activities at Trinity United Methodist Church. Mrs. Bowersox died May 13, 2010 at Thorne Care Center in Hutchinson. Survivors include: sons, Stephen, Derby, and Scott and his wife Sandy, Fort Worth, Texas; and a daughter Susan Fieser and her husband Dean, Plains; one foster child; 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Grace, by her husband Dick on May 15, 1999; a son Stewart Bowersox, a granddaughter Angela; brothers Oren, Clayton, Keith, and Arlond; sisters Betty and Marilyn.

Cremation has taken place. Memorial Service will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 19, 2010, at Trinity United Methodist Church. Private scattering of the ashes will be held at a later date. Memorials may be sent to Wesley Towers or American Diabetes Assn. or the Ferne Bowersox Memorial Fund, sent in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, Ks. 67501. Friends may visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave the family a condolence.