Fern Stoddard Woodbury

Fern Stoddard Woodbury of Dallas, Texas died early Thursday morning, May 7th, 2020 in Parker, Colorado. She celebrated her 91st birthday two weeks prior.

Fern was born April 21, 1929 in Bancroft, Idaho, the youngest child of Ira (Bud) Stoddard and Opal Coumerilh Stoddard. She grew up on the family ranch where she learned to work hard. She excelled at both horseback riding and scholarship and graduated as the valedictorian of her class at North Gem High School. She received an Associates degree from Weber College in Ogden, Utah and a Bachelors Degree from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. She taught elementary school for a brief period before she met Frank Woodbury. They were married in the Salt Lake City Temple in 1952, and shortly thereafter made their way east, settling near Cleveland, Ohio for nearly 20 years. In 1972 Fern and Frank relocated their family to Dallas, Texas, where she continued to raise her family and serve in the community for the next 45 years.

Fern was a loving and committed mother and experienced great joy in rearing her seven children. Her devotion to her husband, Frank, was evident to all who observed their interactions, and they enjoyed an exceptional partnership of love, service, and music. Fern was an accomplished pianist and teacher, instilling in her children and grandchildren a love for music and an interest in developing and sharing their musical talents.

Fern was a committed disciple of Jesus Christ and served faithfully in many capacities in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, including missionary service with her husband Frank in England and in Connecticut, and three decades of service in the Dallas, Texas Temple.

Though grieved at the loss of her sweetheart in 2001 and her oldest daughter in 2003, she continued her life of service to her growing posterity for the next 18 years, and continued to increase her circle of friends to love and care for.

As her health began to decline in 2017, she left her home in Texas to be with her children in Kentucky, North Carolina, and Colorado. She spent her final year in Colorado where many of her posterity had the privilege of visiting and being with her.

Fern was preceded in death by her parents; her step-mother Martha Rickman; her brothers and sisters - Barbara Rose, Donna Wartena, Hugh (or Jack), Robert, and Betty; her step-brothers Raleigh and Robert Scott; her husband Frank; and her daughter Cosette (Charles) Andrews.

She is survived by six children - Matthew Woodbury of Dallas, TX; Paul (Katy) Woodbury of Parker, CO; Michael (Sandy) Woodbury of Aubrey, TX; David (Roxanne) Woodbury of Crestwood, KY; Mark (Rebecca) Woodbury of Morrisville, NC; and Barbara (Rick) Putnam of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; 35 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.

Funeral services are tentatively scheduled for June 6th at 11:00 AM at 900 S. Bowser Road in Richardson, Texas, with interment at the Restland Cemetery in Dallas, Texas. A link to the live stream will be posted here when it becomes available.