Fern Marie Kirkpatrick, daughter of Oliver Ellsworth Tracy and Della May (Wright) Tracy was born May 21, 1911 in Winterset, Iowa and passed from this life September 21, 2008 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa at 97 years of age.

Fern received her education in Madison County Country School and graduated from Winterset High School. She was united in marriage to Elvis Van Kirkpatrick on March 11, 1934 at the family home in Madison County, Iowa and 8 children blessed this union.

Fern was a farm wife, mother and worked alongside her husband in his carpentry business. She was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church near Winterset. Her family was extremely important to her and time spent with them was cherished. She enjoy gardening, fishing, music, cooking, raising sheep and chickens.

Those relatives who preceded Fern in death were her parents; husband, Elvis; son, Vernon; step-son, Junior; granddaughter, Lisa May House; grandson, Bradley Bruce Kirkpatrick; son-in-law, Gilbert Prather; grandson-in-law, Steve Clinton; twin sister, Faye Acton & husband Walter; brothers, Raymond Tracy, George Tracy & wife Dorothy Tracy; sister-in-law, Deloris Tracy; half brother, Cleo Roy; half-sisters, Jessie Roy, Edna Crum and husband Henry; brother-in-law, Wayne Smothers.

She leaves to cherish her memory; son, Eddie Kirkpatrick of Des Moines; daughter, Delores Prather of Bellflower, CA; daughter, Aletha (Fred) House of Martensdale; son, Dale Kirkpatrick (Kyle) of Palmer, NE; daughter-in-law, Judy Kirkpatrick of New Virginia; daughter, Ladonna (Terry) Smith of Winterset; son, Ronnie (Marilyn) Kirkpatrick of New Virginia; daughter, Bonnie (David) Smith of New Virginia; brother, Wallace Tracy of Osceola; sister, Irene Smothers of Cincinnati; sister-in-law, Jeanette Tracy of Winterset; 27 grandchildren, and many great grandchildren & great great grandchildren.