Ferne Denney Garrett

Ferne Garrett, 80, of Auburn passed away Jan. 19 at East Alabama Medical Center. A celebration of her life was held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015 at the Auburn United Methodist Church Founders Chapel. Visitation was held at 1 p.m. in the Chapel.
Ferne was born in Delta, Ky., on April 7, 1934, to Alfred Edgar Denney and Betty Vaughn Denney. She attended Madison Township High School in Indiana and graduated from Berea College with a B.S. in Education. She earned an M.S. in Education from Butler University and an Ed. D. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Illinois.
She married Nevil McClure Garrett in 1955 in the Berea College Chapel.
Ferne started her career teaching elementary school in southern Indiana and continued her teaching career in Illinois and Massachusetts. She entered administration as a principal and then as curriculum coordinator for the Arlington Heights, Ill., school system.
In 1989, Ferne and Nevil relocated to Auburn, where she was the Assistant Superintendent of Auburn City Schools. Later she worked at the Truman-Pierce Institute in the College of Education at Auburn University and finished her career with the State of Alabama “No Child Left Behind” program.
She and Nevil enjoyed the arts, Auburn University sports, golf and travel. She was especially proud of her volunteer work with AUMC Christian Women’s Job Corps.
Ferne was preceded in death by her husband, mother, father and brother, Jack Denney. She is survived by brother Jim (Donna) Denney; daughters Julia (Caleb) Pipes and Jessica (Scott) Weatherby; grandchildren Brian (Caroline) O’Neil, Megan O’Neil and Katie O’Neil, Bethie (David) Karosick, and Laura (Lucas) Valesquez;   great-grandchildren Aidan, Grace Adelle and Ava O’Neil, and Kai Valesquez;  sister-in-law Alma Jo Owens and brother-in-law Bill (Alice) Garrett, as well as many treasured nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Ferne’s physicians, the staff of East Alabama Medical Center, the caregivers from Home Instead and the staff of Camellia Place for all of their compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully request gifts be made in Ferne’s memory to Auburn United Methodist Church – Christian Women’s Job Corps.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home & Crematory directed. www.jeffcoattrant.