Obituaries : Fern Hazel (Pierson) Healzer

Fern Hazel (Pierson) Healzer, 81, of Partridge, Kan., went to sleep in the arms of Jesus on Aug. 18, 2014, after a long and courageous battle with an unknown neurological disease.

She was a resident of Mennonite Manor, South Hutchinson, Kan. She was born on Nov. 26, 1932, in Goshen County, Wyo., the daughter of William Vincent Allen Pierson and Violet Etta (Canaday) Pierson, who, along with a brother, George Pierson, preceded her in death.

On Nov. 26, 1951, she was united in marriage to Gerald Dean Healzer. He survives. Other survivors include: son, Gaylen D. Healzer and wife Janelle; daughter, Heide R. Cox and husband Timothy; grandson, Jonathan D. Healzer and wife Elise; granddaughter, Alisia R. Cox; great-granddaughter, Eleanor M. G. Healzer; brother, Paul Pierson; sister, Lula Masters; and many nieces and nephews.

Fern was a graduate of Union College Academy, Lincoln, Neb., in 1951. She was a homemaker, farmer’s wife and mother until her children were grown. She then chose to pursue a life-long dream and graduated with a nursing degree from Pratt Community College in 1984. She was employed at Halstead Hospital and Mennonite Manor during her career. For most of her married life, Fern was a resident of Reno County, except for a sixteen-month stay in Landstuhl, Germany, during her husband’s military service, and a six-year residence at Springfield Rehabilitation and Care Center in Springfield, Mo. Fern’s love of her God and His creation, her zest for life, her compassionate service to others, commitment to excellence in her work, her sense of humor and her beautiful smile were a blessing to the many people she came in contact with and will be sorely missed by the family and friends she has left behind.

Funeral service will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, at Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1302 N. Severance, with Elder Clark Jacobs officiating. Burial will follow in Fairlawn Burial Park, Hutchinson. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, with family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Memorials may be made to Adventist Development and Relief or ACS Disaster Response, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.