Fern Frankie "Ownbey" Jenkins
Fern Frankie was the 3rd of 4 children born to Frank Canada Ownbey & Ethel Myrtle Johnston Ownbey on April 21, 1925 and she departed this life on February 27, 2015.

Fern was born on a farm about 13 miles northeast of Campo. She started school at Star School. She only attended the first semester as the family moved southwest of Campo and then Fern attended school at Bear. The first and second grades were taught by Florence Peters. The third grade teacher was Joe Perkins. Then it was time to move again. The family moved to Fern's father's homestead and Mrs. Lillian Collings was her fourth grade teacher. Miss Hazel Dunlap taught the fifth and sixth grade classes with Florence "Peters" Fuller being the seventh grade teacher.

Due to the poor health of Fern's dad, the family moved to Campo at the end of the first semester so her Mother could go to work at the lunch room in the winter and the sewing room in the summer. Mrs. Mary Shipton was her 2nd semester teacher as well as her eighth grade teacher. Fern went to high school for two years and had several teachers during that time. In high school, she enjoyed playing basketball and running track, and was very good at both activities. Fern once said, "growing up we were so poor. We went through the Dust Bowl days and the Great Depression and it was terrible. It must have been more terrible for my parents. They couldn't provide the things that they thought we needed. My dad was totally disabled."

On July 26, 1941, she married the next door neighbor boy by the name of Raymond C. Jenkins. She was 16 years old and Raymond was 18. To this marriage 5 children were born—Bonnie, RC, Bill, Mable, & Alice. She attended church all of her life. After receiving Christ as her personal Savior in her early married life, she became a member of the Pilgrim Holiness Church (later renamed Wesleyan Methodist Church). She was a Sunday School teacher and served on the church board for many years. BUT the most important thing in Fern's life was that her family knew about the Lord. She was a living example of a Godly life on a daily basis. She always made sure her children were in church with her until they were on their own.

Fern was always a super mother, cooking 3 meals a day everyday, sewing, cleaning house, doing laundry, helping with homework and school projects, attending school events of the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as long as her health permitted. She always took care of her children, even if it meant taking them to the field, on the school bus, or whatever needed to be done at that time. She was Raymond's #1 helper which included driving a tractor during farming season as they raised milo, wheat, rye, feed, millet and broomcorn. She hauled many loads of grain as she drove the truck to the elevator over the years. Broomcorn season was always a challenge because while loading the sled you always had to watch for rattlesnakes curled up under the piles that had to be picked up by hand. When the bales were ready to load and haul, Raymond would stack the bales in the truck while Fern pulled the bales up the skid with the pickup and a rope until he yelled stop. This had to be done in this manner since neither one could see the other one. The only one Raymond would trust to do the job was Fern because of the danger. Fern milked cows, separated the milk to make butter & cottage cheese and also for the cream. When a cow was having trouble calving, she helped pull the baby calves, and then it was branding, dehorning, castrating, and vaccination time. If a windmill quit working, she was, once again, the only one whom Raymond would trust to drive the pickup as they pulled the jet rods and/or pipe out of the well, then repair and lower the jet rods and pipe back into the well for the water to be pumped again.

During these years, Fern also drove the school bus for Campo School approximately 37 years and was a lunchroom cook at the school for 35 years. She was very, very excited and proud to receive her GED diploma and participate in the graduation ceremony with the class of 1972. Fern loved and was an avid collector of clocks.

Fern was proceeded in death by her parents, Frank & Ethel Ownbey, 2 sisters—Ida Mae Ownbey & Hattie Paul, 1 brother—Arthur Ownbey, and her husband—Raymond Jenkins. She is survived by 3 daughters—Bonnie (Johnnie) Newton, Wheatland, Wyoming, Mable (Dean) Lusk, Rocky Ford, Colorado, Alice (Darrel) Utt, Vilas, Colorado, 2 sons—R. C. (Ellen) Jenkins, Boise City, Oklahoma, Bill (Kim) Jenkins, Campo, Colorado, also 12 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren plus 1 on the way, 4 great-great grandchildren, as well as a host of brother-& sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins. It always brightened her day anytime her kids or grandkids came by to see her—even when she was on her death bed, she responded to them. She enjoyed her many friends and family when they stopped by to visit or called.

Fern always had a soft spot in her heart for the Veterans, especially those who were disabled. For many years she was a member of the Bible-A- Month Club which supplies Bibles for all American Military personnel.

The family has suggested memorials to the Bible-A-Month Club of the American Bible Society, 1865 Broadway, New York, NY 10023 or a favorite charity of your choice.