August 22,1927 – July 10,2020
Edna Iola Kern, 92, of Bedford went to be with Jesus at 10:07 P.M. Friday at Bliss Place in Bedford.
Born August 22, 1927, in Enigma, Georgia, she was the daughter of James Edward and Claudie (Wheeler) Benefield. Her family moved to Bartow, Florida when she was a child.
She married the late Paul Raymond Kern of Lawrence County on March 17, 1946, and he preceded her in death on December 10, 2005.
Edna was a graduate of Summerlin High School in Bartow Florida. She moved to Lawrence county with her husband after graduation. She had a long career and retired from General Motors Central Foundry in Bedford. She was on the original board of directors at the Hoosier Hills credit Union and a member of the UAW local 440. She was a member of Bedford Free Methodist Church for over 60 years. She also served for many years as a volunteer with the Dunn Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.
She loved and was loved by her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, as well as her church family and almost everyone else she came in contact with, from her hair dressers, to her support staff, the waitresses at her favorite restaurant, and even strangers. She tried to be encouraging, bubbly, and supportive. Edna cared about everybody she met and was genuinely interested in their life. Most importantly she loved her Lord and was proud to let you know. She was sure of her salvation and is certainly in the presence of her Jesus today.
Surviving are her two children, Raymond Kern and wife Susie, of Bedford, and Paula Teague and husband Kenneth, of Bedford; grandchildren, Adam (Jennifer) Kern, of Seattle, WA, Andrea (Josh) Rope, of Bedford, Amber Chastain, of Bedford, Brady Wayne (Brandy) Turner, of Plainfield, Amanda (Casey) Gallagher, of Kissimmee, FL, William (Abbey) Teague, of Mitchell, Daniel (Lourdes) Teague, of Kokomo, Dustin Teague, of Bedford, Brandon Teague, of Bedford, Kelly Nicole Teague, of Bedford, and Samuel Teague, of Bedford; great-grandchildren, Lucas and Peyton Chastain, Addison and Oliver Rope, Hanna (Mason) Webb, Will and Aynsley Dixon, Joshua Teague, Peter Gallagher, and Carol Jean “C.J.” Teague; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and one sister, Erma Jean (Lewis) Anderson.
Funeral service will be at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at the Ferguson-Lee Chapel of Thorne-George Family Funeral Homes, with Pastor David Colgan officiating. Burial will follow in Green Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4-8 P.M. on Tuesday at the funeral chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Bedford Free Methodist Church.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.fergusonlee.com.
