Fern E. Wall

Fern Etta Wall, age 97, passed away Saturday, April 19, 2014. She was born January 5, 1917 to Jennie T. Chaffin and Clarence S. Chaffin. Fern is survived by her daughter, Kathy, and Kathy's self-adopted brother, Mark. She is preceded in death by her husband, Harold Roland Wall who passed in February 1996. Fern and her four brothers and sisters, Dorsey, Evelyn, Vernon, and Wanda grew up on a farm in Stevens County, Kansas. They often shared fond memories of their life on the farm, their horse, Blue, and the challenges of living through the Dust Bowl. Fern left Kansas as a young woman and lived with the Newcomb family in Longmont, Colorado. She met Harold, they married and moved to Denver where they bought a bakery and worked hard as a team at the Neighborhood Bakery located at 2454 Federal Boulevard, Denver, Colorado. Harold baked and Fern assisted while becoming very skilled at decorating wedding cakes. Later in life she made wedding cakes for her daughter, nieces and nephews. She became a confectionary artist and enjoyed making sugar Easter Eggs and Christmas ornaments out of dough. She also expressed herself creatively through knitting. Gardening was one of her favorite activities and she cherished quiet time spent among the geraniums on the flagstone patio the two of them built. Working together with Harold to complete other projects on their house, including finishing their basement, was also important to her. She painted a picture of the Maroon Bells which, when illuminated from the back, is the crowning glory of the basement. Fern and Harold's second business venture was to own and operate a Skelly Service Station at the corner of 13th and Lincoln in Denver, Colorado. As the years passed, a tow truck service was added. Fern supported Harold by doing all of the bookkeeping and providing telephone assistance to customers. She attended St. John's Lutheran Church and was active as a Sunday School Teacher and on the Altar Guild. As leader of her daughter's Campfire Group she instructed each girl making their own beaded headband on looms made by Harold. She resided at Emeritus Assisted Living in Lakewood during the final year of her life where she enjoyed bingo, church services, pig roasts, and parties for Halloween, Mother's Day and Christmas. Their superb staff, together with The Denver Hospice, cared for her until her last breath. A viewing will be held on Thursday, May 1st from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Horan & McConaty at 3101 South Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, Colorado 80227. The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 2nd at St. John's Lutheran Church located at 700 South Franklin Street in Denver, Colorado. A reception will follow the funeral. All family and friends are then invited to process to Crown Hill Cemetery where a graveside service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at Horan & McConaty Funeral Home, 3101 South Wadsworth in Lakewood, Colorado (303) 986-9615. The family invites you to make comments and share memories at the guestbook below. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Fern Wall and in appreciation of Joe Stewart, RN may be sent to The Denver Hospice at 501 South Cherry Street, Suite 700, Denver, Colorado 80246.