FUNERAL SERVICES for Mrs. McEwan will be held on Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Hill and Son Funeral Home, Appleton City, Missouri.

MINISTER will be Pastor Sam Masten.

VISITATION will be Thursday, May 15, 2014 from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at Hill and Son Funeral Home.

INTERMENT will be in the Appleton City Cemetery, Appleton City, Missouri.

The family suggests that MEMORIAL gifts can be made to American Heart Association.

Fern Laverne Bradley McEwan was born July 19, 1921, in Centerview, Missouri, the youngest child of Caroline Yantis Lewis and George Washington Bradley. She died May 11, 2014 in Appleton City, Missouri.

Still a little girl when her mother became seriously ill, Fern was raised by several older siblings in their homes near Appleton City since her father, a carpenter, could not provide full-time care. This caused her to attend various schools, including Hudson Elementary, from which she graduated.

On March 31, 1940, Fern married John L McEwan. They celebrated their 36 ^th wedding anniversary shortly before his death in April of 1976.

Fern helped her husband on their farm southeast of Appleton City while caring for their three children. She enjoyed serving delicious food prepared from her extensive recipe collection. She relished camping with her family and later treated her grandchildren to local fishing excursions.

From an early age, she developed a love for animals, and many strays found a nurturing home with her. Fern collected home décor items with animal themes, particularly owls and cats, and looked forward to the nearly daily visits of her Brittany spaniel, Lucy, at Appleton City Manor.

Mrs. McEwan was a member of the Appleton City Trinity United Methodist Church, the Eastern Star, the Rebekahs, the Fidelis Circle, and Ladies of St. Clair County Extension Service.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her siblings Dollie, Mary, Irene, Pearl, Bill, James, Lewis, and Lucille, and her brother-in-law, Warren McEwan.

She is survived by her children, Elizabeth (Betty) and husband L. Dennis Robertson of Conroe, TX; William (Bill) McEwan and wife Carol, who purchased and reside on the family farm; and Mary Beth Woods and fiancé Rockey Evans of Osceola, Missouri.

Fern is loved by her eight grandchildren: Victoria Glimcher, John and Deidre Robertson, Lorie and Mark Easton, Craig and Juvy McEwan, Carla McEwan, Lisa Fern Golden and fiancé Cory Smith, John L and Talesha Woods, and Kristal O'Rourke.

She also leaves her sister-in-law, Armilda McEwan, and sixteen great-grandchildren, as well as nieces, nephews, and friends.