Obituary of Ada Fern Johnson

Coffeyville - Ada Fern Johnson, daughter of the late Erie and Winnie (Cantrell) Gaddis, was born on November 21, 1932 in Mtn. Grove, Missouri, and departed this life on May 8, 2014 in the St. John's Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, following a short illness. She was 81 years of age. Fern grew up in Mtn. Grove and graduated from Mtn. Grove High School. She continued her education at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, earning a Nursing Degree in 1954. Fern was united in marriage to Doyle Walker in 1958. This union was blessed with two children, Joe and Patty. Fern was employed as a registered nurse in several hospitals over the years. For the last fourteen years of her career, she worked at St. John's Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Following her retirement, she moved to Tyro, Kansas to be near her family. She was longtime member of the Tyro Christian Church. During her life, Fern gave help to many to further their education. Because of her dedication to Christian education, the family wanted to honor Fern by having memorials and contributions in her memory to support the Tyro Christian School. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers: Dale Gaddis and Donnie Gaddis; and by a sister-in-law: Ricki Gaddis. Fern is survived by her son and daughter-in-law: Joe and Susan Walker of Keller, Texas; her daughter and son-in-law: Patty and Terry Byrd of Tyro, Kansas; eight grandchildren: Tiffany Foy, Heather Foy, Sarah Walker, Emily Walker, Micheal Byrd, Ryan Byrd, Brycen Byrd, and Terra Byrd; six great-grandchildren: Olivia Grant, Jon Micheal Byrd, Tabitha Byrd, Joel Byrd, Camdyn Byrd, and Morgan Byrd; one brother: Tommy Gaddis of Mtn. Grove, Missouri; one sister: Faye Stottlemeyer of Houston, Missouri; two sisters-in-law: Ann Gaddis and Delores "Dee" Gaddis; and other relatives and friends who will miss her very much. A Memorial Service celebrating Fern's life will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at the Tyro Christian Church with David Bycroft officiating. Inurnment will be at a later time at Mountain Grove, MO. Memorial contributions may be left with the Tyro Christian School or David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville.