Fern (Skidmore) Jones

FERN KATHLEEN SKIDMORE JONES

Fern Jones 93, passed away peacefully with her loving daughter at her side March 6, 2024, at Appalachian Regional Hospital in Harlan, Kentucky following an extended stay at Harlan Health and Rehab Center.

A native of Harlan County, she was the daughter of the late Lawrence and Mary Eager Skidmore of Grays Knob. Fern was a member of Baxter United Methodist Church. She graduated from Hall High School in 1948 and received a certificate from the Brumbach School of Business in 1950. She was a legal secretary for James Greene in Harlan and retired from there in 1999. Fern was an avid reader and said that when she was young she would often read the labels on boxes just to have the opportunity to read something. Having been raised on the Skidmore farm, she loved gardening both flowers and vegetables. She would have spent the entire day outdoors if possible, working in her small garden and walking through the neighborhood. Fern also enjoyed cooking and baking. It could be said that she was the number one fan of the Food Network on TV. In fact, you could probably find recipes and cooking tips on pieces of paper placed in books and magazines all through her house. In addition to gardening, reading and cooking, Fern loved to travel. She especially loved what was commonly known as “Three Sisters Tour” hosted by her niece, Julie Tolliver, where she and her sisters Polly Skidmore and Sue Tolliver would travel to various special locations for a couple of days. She loved her immediate and extended family and thoroughly enjoyed the Skidmore family reunions. She doted on her only grandson calling him her APG, Almost Perfect Grandson because only Jesus was perfect. Fern was also a true-blue UK fan, especially the football program and attended almost all of their home games for close to 30 years. There she and her husband Herm had a loyal “tailgating” group to enjoy the victories and commiserate the losses.

Other than her parents she is preceded in death by her husband Herman Jones, two brothers, Jack Skidmore and Robert Skidmore and two sisters, Pauline Skidmore and Sue Tolliver.

She is survived by her daughter, Candy Johnson (Ishmeal), of Danville, Kentucky, her grandson, Cristopher Ryan Johnson and two great-grandsons, Ryan Sterling Johnson and Cristopher Wolfe Johnson all of Lancaster, Kentucky. In addition to her immediate family, she is also survived by several nieces and nephews, cousins and her sister-in-law, Joyce Skidmore of Seymour, Tennessee.

The family expresses great appreciation for the excellent and loving care provided by the staff and volunteers of the Harlan Health and Rehabilitation Center as well as to Dr. Abdul Dahhan, who provided diligent care for Fern over the years.

Visitation will be Tuesday, March 12, 2024, beginning at 10:30am at Henson & Rich Funeral Home with funeral services following at 11:30am with Rev. Kyle Burnett officiating. Burial will follow at Resthaven Cemetery at Keith, KY with family and friends serving as pallbearers.

Fern’s family has asked that memorial gifts be made to the Harlan County Friends of the Shelter or the Alzheimer’s Association.

On behalf of the staff of the Henson & Rich Funeral Home we would like to offer our heartfelt sympathy to the family during their time of bereavement.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Fern (Skidmore) Jones, please visit our floral store.