Fern Ethel McPherson

Fern Ethel McPherson (née Kellett) died June 21, 2026 at the Carberry Personal Care Home at the age of 88. 

Fern was born August 31, 1937 in Carberry to John (Jack) and Sarah (née Dyck) Kellett. She is predeceased by her husband of 59+ years, Hugh Robertson McPherson, her parents, her in-laws, her brother Lloyd and son-in-law Darcy. She is survived by her children Darryl (Sharon), Valdine and Kristi; grandchildren Andrew (Mira), Kayla (Daniel), Iain (Esther), Tanner (Natalie), Tyler, Melissa (Cody) and Cole (Naya); sisters Phyllis and Sandra (Vic); sister-in-law Johanna and numerous nieces and nephews.

Fern enrolled at the Normal School following high school and upon graduation, taught for one year in Isabella, Manitoba. After her marriage, she would substitute teach at Sidney School.

Fern and Hugh were married August 17, 1957 and resided in Sidney until 1976, when they moved (house and all) to Carberry. 

During the time Hugh was driving for Carberry Transfer, Fern was the bookkeeper for Carberry Transfer. She finished her career as a bookkeeper at Carberry Seed Plant.

Fern and Hugh loved warm weather. Initially it was an old converted school bus making regular trips from Sidney to Pleasant Valley (Pelican Lake). Then a travel trailer started making the trip, before it was replaced with a cozy cottage on Pelican Lake near Ninette. When Hugh retired from trucking, many years of regular trips to Dunedin, Florida during the winter months followed. While in Florida, Fern and Hugh would attend Toronto Blue Jays Spring Training games. They made many friends while in Florida and kept in contact with many of them over the years.

Fern and Hugh loved to dance and drove many miles throughout southern Manitoba to dance to their favourite bands.

Fern loved to bake and took great pride in her many ribbons won at the Carberry Fair. If Fern loved to bake, she loved flowers even more. The evening ritual through the summer was to fill up the watering can and tend to her flowers - backyard, front yard, either end of the house, around the deck. Her garden was a close second behind her flowers. There would be pickles to make, peas and corn to freeze, and carrots and potatoes. It was always a sad day when the last of the harvest was pulled from the ground.

Fern was an avid curling fan, having curled for many years before the call of warmer Florida winters. Fern kept abreast of the curling world and the Blue Jays on television. She would keep track of television schedules because she didn’t want to miss a minute of the action.

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