A Celebration of Life was held Friday at Salas Brothers Funeral Chapel for Fern Margaret Melesse Elkins, 94, of Waterford. The former Ceres resident died April 16, 2011 peacefully at Evergreen Rehabilitation Care Center in Modesto.
Born Feb. 6, 1917 in South Sioux City, Neb., the second youngest of nine children of Charles and Bertha Young, Fern graduated from South Sioux City High School in 1934. Shortly afterward she moved with her sister, Florence, to Ceres where she worked as a nanny for Dr. Nankeville and his family. There she met and married Dale H. Elkins. Their wedding on July 29, 1939 followed a week after the wedding of their life-long friends, Dale and Genny Taylor of Ceres. They moved to Waterford in 1941 and were self-employed in the dairy business. She continued to maintain the business in partnership with their son, Vernon, until Dale's death in 1993. Fern enjoyed cooking and preparing holiday meals and special events for her family and friends. She was active in Waterford 4-H, PTA, Cub Scouts and Waterford Womens Club. She served faithfully at Waterford Community Baptist Church in the Grace Circle and as a Sunday School teacher. She served on the Stanislaus County Election Board for over 40 years.
She leaves behind three children, Kay Mott of Modesto, and Vernon Elkins and Charlinda Elkins of Waterford; her three grandchildren, Lynne Pedlowe and Cheryl Addis of Modesto and Gary Mott of Willington, Connecticut and 14 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by husband Dale, her parents and siblings Melford, Raymond, Elmer, Walter, Lyle, Alma, Florence (Kraft) and Clarence.
Remembrances may be sent Crosspoint Community Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 4309, Modesto, CA, 95352; or to John F. Kennedy School, 1336 Stonum Road, Modesto CA 95351.
-Ceres Courier/ April 27, 2011
Born Feb. 6, 1917 in South Sioux City, Neb., the second youngest of nine children of Charles and Bertha Young, Fern graduated from South Sioux City High School in 1934. Shortly afterward she moved with her sister, Florence, to Ceres where she worked as a nanny for Dr. Nankeville and his family. There she met and married Dale H. Elkins. Their wedding on July 29, 1939 followed a week after the wedding of their life-long friends, Dale and Genny Taylor of Ceres. They moved to Waterford in 1941 and were self-employed in the dairy business. She continued to maintain the business in partnership with their son, Vernon, until Dale's death in 1993. Fern enjoyed cooking and preparing holiday meals and special events for her family and friends. She was active in Waterford 4-H, PTA, Cub Scouts and Waterford Womens Club. She served faithfully at Waterford Community Baptist Church in the Grace Circle and as a Sunday School teacher. She served on the Stanislaus County Election Board for over 40 years.
She leaves behind three children, Kay Mott of Modesto, and Vernon Elkins and Charlinda Elkins of Waterford; her three grandchildren, Lynne Pedlowe and Cheryl Addis of Modesto and Gary Mott of Willington, Connecticut and 14 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by husband Dale, her parents and siblings Melford, Raymond, Elmer, Walter, Lyle, Alma, Florence (Kraft) and Clarence.
Remembrances may be sent Crosspoint Community Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 4309, Modesto, CA, 95352; or to John F. Kennedy School, 1336 Stonum Road, Modesto CA 95351.
-Ceres Courier/ April 27, 2011
