Frances 'Fern' Chinn

Frances Fern Chinn, 95, of Marshalltown passed away on Monday, October 13, 2014, at Bickford Cottage under the care of the Iowa River Hospice. Graveside services for Fern will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2014, at Riverside Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to either the Bliss Cancer Center at Mary Greeley in Ames or to the Iowa River Hospice Home. For more information or to send a condolence please visit: www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Fern and her family. Fern White was born on her familys farm in Ringgold County on August 30, 1919, to John Howard and Pearl Viva (Smith) White. Fern graduated from Clearfield High School in 1938. On July 6, 1943, Fern was united in marriage to Clifford H Chinn in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Fern and Clifford made their home in Marshalltown on their Century Farm, on a gravel road formerly known as Chinn Road. Fern enjoyed gardening, flowers, crafts and woodworking as well as being a wonderful cook and excellent farm wife. She worked diligently side-by-side with her husband doing whatever needed to be done to run their farm. They were well-respected by neighbors and always willing to help wherever needed. Left to cherish her memory are here nieces and nephews: Garnet Dunn, Jeanette Gibson, Jim Hitchings, Chuck Hitchings, Marvin Hitchings, Charlene McGrew, Linda Patti, Louise Harris, Judy Thorson, John Hitchings and Jane Smith. Fern is preceded in death by her husband Clifford, who passed away in 2002; as well as both her parents and her sister, Freeda Lininger.