Baker City, Oregon
Frances Fernell Depoali, 85, of Baker City, died July 15, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center after surgery to repair her fractured hip and developing pneumonia.
Her memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 975 S. Bridge St. John Skurat, a minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses, will conduct the service. Interment will be with her father at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway.
Fernell was born on Nov. 7, 1918, at Chandler, Ariz., to Arthur Thomas and Mary Alabama Neel. While her father looked for work during the Depression, the family lived in many places, including towns in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon and Idaho.
On June 17, 1934, she married Herman Young. They had a daughter, Jean.
She married William Depoali on Dec. 11, 1937, at Sparks, Nev. They had another daughter, Virginia.
After marrying William, she lived many years at Gardnerville, Nev., where she worked at the PayLess Drug Store as a clerk and bookkeeper, before moving to Baker City where she worked at the PayLess Drug store until she retired in 1984.
Fernell’s smiling face and happy attitude will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. She had been a faithful Jehovah’s Witness for the last 37 years.
She found great joy in sharing the Bible’s message of hope for the future with others and she looked forward to being part of that future through the resurrection. She was active in her ministry until her death.
In the past, Fernell showed her love for those in the congregation in many ways, such as giving members rides to meetings and conventions and just by being her sweet self.
Survivors include her daughters, Virginia Robinson of Dayton, Nev., and Jean Depoali of Morrilton, Ark.; a sister, Erma Lee Summers of Polson, Mont.; two brothers, Noal A. Thomas of Prescott, Ariz., and David N.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Etta Kruckow; and a brother, Dale Thomas.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, July 23, 2004
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor