Ferne S. Keesler (Schweighofer)

As the brilliant sun rose on Sunday September 17, 2023, our beloved Mother and Grandmother Ferne S Keesler joined her soulmate Bob in the eternal light of heaven. In her last days she was surrounded in her home by the love of her daughters, her family, her friends and her fuzzball Granddog Cooper. Her passing was filled with grace, love and most important, peace. She was 95 years young and her kind but determined soul will be so greatly missed.

Ferne was born to Lurline (Grossman Schweighofer) Clark and Floyd Schweighofer on July 21, 1925 at the family home in Carley Brook. As the “middle” daughter, she was no stranger to standing her ground for what she believed in, supporting others when they needed it and finding a little mischief with her sisters every now and then. Those simpler times taught Ferne the great life lessons of love for your family, dedication to your faith, the power of forgiveness and the essence of simply grace. She learned those lessons well and they never failed her throughout her long and full life.

Shortly after graduating from Honesdale High School, fate would set the stage for one of the greatest love stories of all time. Ferne met her lifelong soul mate, Bob Keesler and the couple were married on January 16^th, 1947 in a civil ceremony in Maryland, a state that did not require parental permission at that time. She was but 18 when she married Bob and that deep undying love between them would never waver throughout their long life together. They were 6 weeks shy of celebrating their 76^th wedding anniversary when the lord called him home.

When Bob returned from his military service during WWII, the young couple headed to Philadelphia where Ferne attended Drexel University to study business and accounting. She would parlay this education into the business world working in several law firms, managing Goodman Cinder Block, serving as personal secretary for Dr Garry Myers (Highlights for Children), running the family business of Keesler Electric Service, managing Bethany Colony for several years and finally retiring from the Wayne County Courthouse at Chief Deputy Prothonotary of Wayne County.

Nothing meant more to Ferne than family thus the couple’s decision to return to Bethany after Bob’s second tour of duty in the US Navy based in Key West. They settled into the original Presbyterian parsonage right in the heart of Bethany where they welcomed their first daughter Kathy in 1962 and their second daughter Rose Mare in 1967. Ferne was chief cook and bottle washer of just about everything! She handled all of the administration side of Bob’s Electric business, ran the Bethany United Methodist Sunday school and summer bible school, sold Avon (very successfully) to all of the area ladies plus had numerous Girl Scout troops, 4-H gatherings and chaired many community events in the Bethany area.  She always had time for anything and everything her daughters (or any of the neighborhood children) wanted to partake in. “Call Ferne, she will handle it” and she always did! This was not more evident than during her recent return to the Bethany United Methodist Church where she reconnected with many of these children now adults so many decades later!  Her circle of children expanded in 1993 with the birth of her only granddaughter Jessica who quickly stole her heart. They were very blessed to celebrate 30 years together this past May.

Despite her busy day to day life, Ferne always found time to volunteer for many local organizations including the American Cancer Society, the Bethany Historical Society, the Bethany Public Library, the Central United Methodist Church office (where she and Bob were members for many years) plus countless others. She was both an avid reader loving all kinds of books and an avid writer of notes and cards to everyone she knew.

In her later years she researched and wrote a book “Bethany, in the beginning…” for which she was awarded the Wayne County Historical Society Historic Preservation Award in October of 2019. An accomplishment she was very proud of.

Ferne is survived by her daughters, Kathy Baron and Rose Marie Keesler (Gary Bonham), her granddaughter Jessica Ferranti and soon to be husband Dustin Mize, her son-in-law Dan Baron, her brother Walter Clark and wife Nancy Dymond, niece Connie Petraitis (John), nephews Bill Campbell (Regina), Terry Campbell (Linda), Randy Campbell (Sharon), Lynn Thompson (Cindi) and the most wonderful loving extended family that any woman could hope to have. In addition to her parents and stepfather Herman Clark, Ferne is joining her sisters Rita Hyde and Janet Barriger in eternal peace.

We wish to extend our deepest and most sincere thanks to Charlene, Ginny and Barbara of Ferne’s Wayne Memorial Hospice Team, 3 of the kindest and most compassionate nurses we have ever met. They made her final days comfortable and allowed her to say goodbye with grace and dignity.  We also wish to extend a special thanks to Sharon Bryant and Tammy Rickard for always making Ferne smile! She loved you both!

Should you wish to make a donation in Ferne’s honor, please give to the Dessin Animal Shelter, The Bethany United Methodist Church or the Bethany Library Association.

Please join us for an open house in celebration of Ferne’s wonderful life on Saturday the 25^th of November at the Bethany Community Church Hall anytime between 1pm and 4pm.  We hope to see you to honor this special lady and enjoy a few of her favorite sweet treats and a cup of tea!