Fern Barclay

 (From Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home)

Leola Fern (Davis) Barclay, 96, was born January 13, 1925, at home near Cedar Springs to Virgil Davis and Edna May (Allen) Davis. She passed away on January 2, 2022 at Cedar County Memorial Hospital.

Fern, as she was best know attended school in a one room school house near Cedar Springs. She graduated from the El Dorado Springs High School in 1941. After graduation she obtained a teaching certificate and taught in a country school. She later started working at International Shoe nine days after it opened. 

Little did she know that it would be here that she would meet her future husband, John Samuel Barclay. John always loved to tell the story of their first meeting. The plant manager introduced them and John’s response was, “Here I am an ex GI and a woman is telling me what to do.” So began their story. 

On January 9, 1947 they were married at the Methodist Church parsonage with Minister Clarence Folkins officiating. They celebrated sixty one years of marriage before John’s death in March of 2008. To this union three children were born; Steven Art who died in infancy, Deanna Lee, and Sheila Sue. 

Fern was a 70 year member of the Order of the Eastern Star and a 70+ year member of the VFW Auxiliary. When she was able to she enjoyed crocheting and working puzzle books. Every night she spent time reading the Bible.

Preceding her in death were her husband John, her parents Virgil and Edna Davis, in-laws O.L. and Lettie Barclay, infant son Steven Art, nephew Artie Dean Davis, brother Arthur Davis, sisters-in-law Betty (Strouse) Davis, Bettie (Solomon) Davis, and great grandson Owen Davis.

Survivors are daughters Deanna (Guy) Shouse, Sheila (Gary) Benham both of El Dorado Springs, grandsons Kent Shouse of Jasper, Missouri, Lee (Jamie) Shouse of El Dorado Springs, Joshua (Melissa) Benham of Webb City, Missouri, granddaughter Whitney Benham of Sedalia, Missouri, Margaret (Matt) Holder of Fenton, Missouri, Katherine Benham of El Dorado Springs, great granddaughter Alexis Marie Shouse of Jasper, Missouri, great grandsons Ian Davis of Sedalia, Missouri, and Onyx Benham of Webb City, Missouri, also a host of other relatives and friends.