Marguerite Fern (Bradley) Powell (1924-2023) Oklahoma City, OK

Marguerite Fern (Bradley) Powell (known by friends and family as Fern) of Oklahoma City, OK, died Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at Iris Memory Care of Nichols Hills.

Fern was born on April 16, 1924, in Marceline, Missouri to parents Mary Emaline (Isaacs) Bradley and James R. Bradley. She attended grade school in Springdale, Arkansas, then the family moved to Marlow, Oklahoma. She attended Marlow Public Schools, graduating in 1942 from Marlow High School.

After graduation, Fern attended Draughon’s Business College in Oklahoma City, then returned to the Marlow area for employment during World War II. During this time, she met her future husband, William (Bill) Powell, who was stationed at the Fort Sill Army Base in Lawton, OK. They were married on November 4, 1943, and enjoyed 52 happy years of marriage before Bill died in January 1996. Fern was employed as a secretary for many years at Montgomery Ward and at Culbertson Heights and Mayfair Churches of Christ. She also volunteered for many years at Deaconess Hospital, and returned to work there as a unit secretary for a number of years after her husband retired. Fern was a faithful member of Mayfair Church of Christ for over 50 years. She loved staying in touch with her friends and family by writing cards and letters, and she enjoyed gardening, cooking, reading, sewing and working the daily crossword puzzle well into her late 80’s.

Preceding Fern in death were her parents; her husband; her brother, Glen A. Bradley and sister-in-law Maria Bradley; her brother-in-law Ken Ruhl; and one nephew, James Bradley (survived by wife Kathy). She leaves behind survivors to honor her memory, including her sister, Mary Ruhl, of Durant, OK; a son, William Edward Powell and wife Barbara, of OKC; a daughter, Nancy Powell Flack and husband John, of Pittsboro, NC; two grandchildren (Mary Marie and Red); four great-grandchildren (Donovan, Alex, Elijah and Jessie Don); six nephews and nieces, Roger Bradley (Rita), Rose Baker (Ted), Anna Cooper (Fred), all of California, Chris Ruhl (Michelle) of Oolagah, OK, Cindy Ruhl, of Durant, OK and Kurt Ruhl of Durant, OK; and numerous great-nephews and great-nieces.

Special thanks are given to Senior Helpers of Oklahoma City, Storey Oaks Memory Care/Iris Memory Care of Nichols Hills and Complete OK Home Health and Hospice for the care that was provided over the last 5 years of her life.

Graveside services were held on Saturday, April 22. Donations may be made in Fern’s memory to either the Dementia Society of America (dementiasociety.org) or to Oklahoma Christian University Bands (www.oc.edu/give). To share a memory or condolence, visit www.mercer-adams.com.