MELCHER, Ferne F.

MELCHER, ETCHEN, BROOKS, NEESE

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 6/5/2013 at 11:22:35

Ferne F. Melcher, 92, of 5913 30th Lane N., St. Petersburg, Fla., formerly
Clear Lake, died on Aug. 15, 2008 at the Laurellwood Nursing Home, St.
Petersburg. Funeral services will be Thursday, Aug. 21, 10:30 a.m., at the
Clear Lake Methodist Church with the Rev. Diane Hoover officiating. Internment
will be at the Clear Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 – 6
p.m. Family suggests memorials be made to the Ferne F. Melcher Memorial Fund.

Ferne Fay Melcher was born Aug. 25, 1915 in rural Clear Lake, the daughter
of Oliver Perry Morton Brooks and Lillian Sophie Etchen Brooks. She graduated
from Clear Lake High School.

She and Claytus E. Melcher were married in East Orange, N.J. on June 13,
1934. Early in the marriage she was a homemaker. In the 1950’s she went to
work for the Clear Lake Federal Savings and Loan and retired after 25 years.
She was active in the Clear Lake community with the Women’s Club; the Clear Lake
Methodist Church; Order of the Eastern Star, Park Chapter No. 35; and the
National T.T.T Society, charter member of Chapter AQ. She served as national
president of the T.T.T. Society and, in that capacity, had lunch honoring
national presidents of philanthropic groups at the White House during President
Gerald Ford’s term. She was noted for her entertaining book reviews, for
moderating women’s fashion shows, and for regular participation in church
discussion groups and local issue programs.

After retiring to Florida, she and Claytus were instrumental in the effort
by the residents of Flowerwood Club Park to purchase the park and thus keep it
out of the hands of developers. She served as secretary-treasurer of the park
for many years.

Ferne is survived by her daughter, Linda M. Neese, St. Petersburg; and son,
Mark L. Melcher, Mt. Jackson, Va.; five grandchildren: Julia Schipper, Thomas
Schipper, Mark (Carol) Melcher, Paula (Mark) Johnson, Deborah (Michael) Murphy,
and eight great-grandchildren.

Ferne is preceded in death by her husband of 72 years, Claytus E. Melcher;
by her parents; her brother, Gerald Brooks, and granddaughter, Marsha M.
Schipper.