Fern’s service will be Thursday, October 3, 2013, at the Grunnagle Ament Nelson Mortuary, 870 San Benito St., Hollister, at 10:00 A.M., with interment at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Hollister, where she will be buried next to Bud and Katie. A reception will follow at the Immaculate Conception Church Parish Hall in Tres Pinos. Memorials may be made to the Breast Cancer Foundation of San Benito and Monterey Counties or Emmaus House, in care of the mortuary. Visit: www.grunnagle.com for condolences.
San Benito County native Fern Fancher passed away Sunday, September 29, 2013, in Santa Clara County.
Fern was born to George and Ruth Frusetta on June 8, 1918, in San Benito, CA. Beautiful San Benito County was her home for almost all of her life. After high school graduation she attended Heald’s Business College in San Jose. Her first job was working for the State Board of Equalization in San Luis Obispo.
Fern met and married the late Eldon “Bud” Fancher in 1944, while Bud was still in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
After Bud’s discharge from the service they settled on the Fancher Ranch in San Benito County’s Antelope area, where they raised their five children.
She is survived by Page (Pete) Welton, Gilroy, Mark (Cynthia) Fancher, Paicines, Leslie (Kenneth) Rodman, San Luis Obispo, and Patrick (Jacqueline) Fancher, Hollister, and was predeceased by daughter Katie Fancher, Hollister. Fern is also survived by seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, brother, Peter Frusetta, Tres Pinos, sister, Lesli Goss, Tres Pinos, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
After the children left home Fern volunteered for many organizations; American Red Cross, Home Department and Volunteer Fire Department that met at the old Jefferson School.
She was a member of the Farm Bureau and San Benito County Cowbelles Association (now California Cattlewomen’s Association) where she was a past Cattlewoman-of-the-Year.
Fern also loved to travel. She made many trips with the Western Livestock Journal Travel Group around the United States and Canada. One of her favorite trips was to England and Scotland with her daughter Leslie in 2002.
