Obituary - Fern Durst

Funeral services for Fern T. Durst are pending at this time.

Fern T. Durst, age 92 of Butler, Missouri, died November 12, 2010, at OSF St. Anthony’s Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois. She was born November 27, 1917, to Cecil and Bess Taylor in Belton, Missouri.


Fern, one of two sisters, lived most of her early life in Rich Hill, Missouri where she graduated from high school in 1935. After high school Fern attended beauty school in Joplin Missouri, after which she returned to Rich Hill to work with her sister, Fay, in a home beauty shop. On September 28, 1940, in Parsons, Kansas, Fern was united in marriage to Aubrey D. Durst, Sr. To this union, a son and a daughter were born. In 1949 Fern moved to the farm with her husband, Aubrey where she resided until June of this year. She was a member of the Amsterdam Baptist Church for over 60 years, where she sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, worked in Women’s Missionary Union, taught children’s mission groups, and helped in serving many meals.


Fern was a wonderful wife and mother, a helper to friends and family, and a prayer warrior. Her desire was that all would know her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Because of this she spent many hours visiting families in the community to invite them to church services as well as picking up children in the community to take them to various church activities. Fern was a fabulous cook who was known in this area for her chocolate pies. She was an expert seamstress who could not only make beautiful clothing, but also did draperies and upholstering. Fern took joy in spending time with and doing for her husband, children and grandchildren. Then this year she had yet another special joy added in the birth of her only great-grandchild.


Fern was preceded in death by her husband, Aubrey D. Durst, Sr.; her father, Cecil Taylor; her mother, Bessie Taylor Pierce; her step-father, Harry Pierce; one sister, Fay Porter and husband, Kenneth; one brother-in-law, Marvin Durst and wife, Opal; and one nephew, Dick Porter. She is survived by one son, Aubrey “Dean” Durst, Jr. and wife, Julia of Caledonia, Illinois; one daughter, Pamela Sue Woods and husband, Steve of Amsterdam, Missouri; four grandchildren—Sandra Durst and Julianna Durst of Rockford, Illinois; Vance Woods and wife, Tammy of Waco, Texas; Sara Bramsen and husband Andy of South Bend, Indiana; one great-granddaughter, Aravis Joy Bramsen of South Bend, Indiana; two nieces, Eileen Vannatta and husband, John of Leawood, Kansas and children John Murry, Jeff (wife, Christina), Jason, and Jennifer Fisher (husband, J.C.) and Sandy Wolfe of Harrisonville, Missouri and sons Michael and Scott.