Fern Kiser Bartee

Fern Kiser Bartee, age 92, of Abingdon, Va., passed away on Saturday, November 4, 2017, at Commonwealth Senior Living. She was born September 23, 1925, to the late Frank Fitzhugh Kiser and Minda Owens Kiser in Duty, Va. Fern was a 1942 graduate of Dickinson Memorial High School in Clintwood, Va. She worked in Detroit, Mich. during WWII but returned home and worked for W.M. Ritter until she met her husband, Matt. The couple married on June 28, 1947, and relocated to Honaker, Va. Fern was employed by First National Bank of Honaker, the Russell Country School Board, and owned Matt’s Market until she retired.

She was a member of Carvosso United Methodist Church and was the Charter Worthy Matron of Counts Chapter 180 Order of the Eastern Star. Fern was appointed Grand Ruth and elected Grand Lecturer of the Grand Chapter of Virginia Order of the Eastern Star. She was a dual member and Past Matron of Abingdon Chapter 182.

In addition to her parents, Fern was also preceded in death by her husband, L. M. “Matt” Bartee; two daughters, Charma Jane Bartee Jackson and Lisa Ann Bartee Munn Pullum; and four siblings, Ernest Kiser, Glen Dale Kiser, Ruby Kiser Anderson Forcum, and Leafy Kiser Sutherland.

Fern is survived by her grandson, Jerry “J.J.” Jackson and wife, Jill, of Alabama; great grandchildren, Dylan, Bailey, and Bryton Jackson; step-great grandson, Devin Mitchell; niece, Kay Kuchan and husband, Bob; three nephews; special cousin, Nadine Remines; and special neighbor, Jean Dishman.

A funeral ceremony will be held at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 7, 2017, at the Forest Hills Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon, Va. 24210, with the Rev. George W. “Bill” Breeding officiating. Entombment will follow in the Colonial Chapel Mausoleum of Forest Hills Memory Gardens where Harry Anderson, Keegan Anderson, David Bartee, John Bartee, Dylan Jackson, J.J Jackson, and Tim Sutherland will serve as pallbearers. Betty R. Conley, Glen M. Douglas, Dick Duncan, Helen Jean Keene, Bob Kuchan, H.P Remines, and Nadine Remines will serve as honorary pallbearers. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 7, 2017, at the Forest Hills Chapel prior to the funeral ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Carvosso United Methodist Church, 19429 Rustic Ln., Abingdon, Va. 24210, or the Grand Chapter of Virginia O.E.S., Worthy Grand Matrons/Worthy Grand Patrons Special Projects-Cancer, 4101 Nine Mile Rd., Richmond, Va. 23223-4999.

The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of Caris Hospice and Commonwealth Senior Living for their expert care in Fern’s time of need.

Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guestbook. The family of Fern Kiser Bartee is being cared for by Farris Cremation and Funeral Center, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon, Va. 24210 (276-623-2700).