Fern Gartman

Fern Gartman, age 89, of rural Jasper, passed away Monday, October 1, 2012 at her home following a long illness.      Fern was born July 20, 1923 at Stillwater, Oklahoma, the daughter of Frank and Bertha (Bennett) Macklin.  On January 1, 1939, at Tryon, Oklahoma, she married Bill L. Gartman and they had shared nearly 50 years together before his death July 17, 1988. Bill and Fern had moved to Barton County in 1944 where they farmed and raised their three children.  Fern was a member of Lamar United Methodist Church.          In addition to her husband, Bill, Fern was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Allen Macklin and Harry Macklin.      Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Jerry & Carol Gartman, Morehead City, North Carolina; two daughters and their husbands, Carolyn & Gary Gastel, rural Lamar and Sue & Don Downing, Kansas City, Missouri; three sisters-in-law, Violet Macklin, Stillwater, OK, Laurel Herbinger, Lamar, and Reba Steppe, Oak Grove, MO; 10 grandchildren, Steve (Ginger) Gastel, Bartlesville, OK, Scott Gastel, Lamar, Kent Gastel, Frontenac, KS, Kirk Gastel, Springfield, MO, Jeffrey (Kristi) Gartman, Oklahoma City, OK, Jennifer Lewis, Newport, NC, Jeanette (Billy) Barott, Port Orange, FL, Jason (Mindy) Noel, Fox Point, WI, Justin (Catherine) Noel, Liberty, MO, Damon (Melissa) Downing, Sarasota Springs, UT; 14 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and a large extended family.      Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, October 4th at Daniel Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 7:00 until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday.  Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery.      Memorial contributions are suggested to Hospice Compassus or Lamar United Methodist Church in care of Daniel Funeral Home.