Fern Isabella Smith, 87, of Warren, Indiana, passed away comfortably at Heritage Pointe in Warren, at 10:05 am Saturday, February 8, 2020. She was born June 13, 1932 to William Lofland and Edna (Sage) Clark in rural Brownstown, Illinois on the family farm.
Fern married Rev. Paul Brown in 1953 and to this union were born three children, Phillip, Carole, and Matthew. She and her husband served in several southern Illinois communities, including Belmont, Mulberry Grove, Brownstown, Carrier Mills, and Noble. She then married Jerry Smith in Effingham, Illinois on September 12, 1975 and they resided in Olney, Illinois, and later Sidney, Ohio; he died November 22, 2004. She was a homemaker and loved to cook and garden. She was a member of Only Believe Ministries in Botkins, Ohio.
She is survived by two sons, Phillip (Betty) Brown of LaFontaine, Indiana, and Matthew (Robin) Brown of Covington, Ohio, Son-in-law, Jay Zanton of Centralia, Illinois, 17 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild, two step-children, Steve Smith of Vincennes, Indiana and Kim Pitcock of Lawrenceville, Illinois, and her sister Joyce Goodwin. She was also preceded in death by her parents, daughter Carole Zanton, one grandson Adam Brothers, her brother Rollie Lofland, and her step daughter-in-law Connie Smith.
Private graveside services and burial will be at Haven Hill Memorial Gardens, in Olney. Arrangements by Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Ave. Wabash.
Preferred memorial is Heritage Pointe in Warren, Indiana.
The memorial guest book for Fern may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.