FERNE MADISON COLLINS DEGITZ

Mrs. Ferne Madison Collins Degitz, 93, of Good Samaritan Home, passed away at 2:10 a.m. Sunday (May 28, 2006) in Blessing Hospital.

A life long Quincy resident, Ferne was born October 4, 1912, the daughter of Benjamin and Mary Aimy Madison Collins. She married John H. Degitz on February 24, 1933 in Quincy. He preceded her in death on April 5, 1983, shortly after celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary.

Ferne was a 1930 graduate of Quincy High School. In 1931, she and her father drove their Model T Ford from Quincy to Sacramento, California. Her account of this trip was later featured in the Ford Magazine.

In her earlier years, Ferne was active with the Girl Scouts and was the leader of a troop at Emerson School. She also served as assistant director at the scout day camp for a number of years. Ferne was a member of Salem Evangelical United Church of Christ where she was active with the Women's Guild and Salem Singles Club. She belonged to the Dorothy Quincy Chapter of DAR, Blessing Hospital Auxiliary, the Quincy Museum, Good Samaritan Home Auxiliary and served on the Good Samaritan Home Board of Directors for several terms.

Mrs. Degitz was a member of the Quincy Writer's Guild and was featured on the "hot line" frequently with her poetry. She was also known as the "Poet Laureate" of Good Samaritan Home and her poems were often featured in "The Patter".

Surviving is a daughter, Carolyn Smick and her husband Kenneth of Keokuk, IA.; three grandchildren, Megan Smick and her husband Steve Davis of Rockford, IL., Claire Smick-Kuhn and her husband John of Bettendorf, IA. and John Smick and his wife Michele Ward of Iowa City, IA.; seven great grandchildren, Staff Sgt. Chris Davis, Kari Davis, Devin Smick, Kira Kuhn, Kaylin Kuhn, Maeve Ward and Myles Smick; two sisters in law, Clara Degitz and Thelma Degitz; and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Degitz was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and two sisters, Lillian A. Schnellbacher and M. Frances Kostigian.

Cremation rites have been accorded to Mrs. Degitz. A service of remembrance will be held Thursday afternoon at 2:00 in the Good Samaritan Home Chapel by Chaplain Steve Disseler. Private inurnment will be held in Greenmount Cemetery.

There will be no visitation, but the family will meet with friends following the memorial service.

The Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or the Quincy Humane Society.