Bonham, Texas -- Funeral services for Fern Brawner, 85, of Telephone, Texas will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 8, 2022 in Wise Funeral Home Chapel. Mike Dickison will officiate. Burial will follow in Elwood Cemetery. Fern passed away Wednesday morning, October 5, 2022 at Wesley House in Bonham after a courageous battle with cancer.
Alice Fern Baker Brawner was born July 12, 1937 in the Elwood Community of Fannin County, Texas, the daughter of William Coleman “Bill” Baker and Laura Alice Hart Baker. She attended schools in Elwood and Ivanhoe. Fern married A. D. Brawner on October 29, 1955 in Durant, Oklahoma. They had three children, Tony, Rhonda and Laura.
Fern began a career in education as an elementary aide at Sam Rayburn Elementary in 1967. After working under the guidance and encouragement of Kettie Lou Barker for nine years, she started Grayson County College as a full-time student in the fall of 1976. After Grayson, she attended East Texas State University, graduating in 1979 with a degree in Elementary Education. She continued her education and obtained a master’s degree later. She was hired as a kindergarten/first grade teacher at Ector ISD. In 1980 she began teaching at Sam Rayburn as a migrant teacher. The following year she began teaching third grade and retired in 2001 after teaching third grade for 21 years. Fern was a member of the Ivanhoe Church of Christ. She enjoyed shopping, traveling, sight-seeing, playing cards, and dominoes. She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Fern was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her siblings, Harold Baker, Billie Carlile, Mary Sue Carlisle, John T. Baker and Ronald Coleman Baker.
Fern is survived by son, Tony Brawner and wife, Lee Etta, of Ivanhoe, Texas, daughters, Rhonda Lyles and husband, Rusty, of Ivanhoe, Texas and Laura Newland and husband, Jay, of Howe, Texas, sister, Jessie Brawner of Ivanhoe, Texas, grandchildren, Brandon Lyles, Brittney and Charlie Tully, Cole Brawner, Daniel Brawner, Greg Alan Newland, and Jodee Newland, great grandchildren, Taylee Tully and Tierney Tully and bonus great grandson, Derrick Wiley, sisters-in-law, Tennie Baker of Bonham, Texas, Earlene Carroll of Midlothian, Texas and Jewell Hayes of Paris, Texas and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Pallbearers will be Cole Brawner, Daniel Brawner, Barry Don Brawner, Darrin Brawner, Greg Alan Newland, and Charlie Tully.
Honorary pallbearers will be Brandon Lyles, Terry Carlisle, Stan Baker, Craig Carlile, Lesley Brawner, Kim (Walden) Molina, James McDonald, and The Men of Ivanhoe Church of Christ.
The family will receive friends at Wise Funeral Home from 9:00 a.m. until service time Saturday.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Elwood Cemetery Association, c/o Rhonda Lyles, 8866 E FM 273, Ivanhoe, TX 75447
Online guest register www.wisefuneralhome.com