Fern McGee

1917 - 2012  (95 years)

• Name	Fern McGee
  Born	28 Apr 1917	Kirtland, San Juan, New Mexico, USA
  Gender	Female
  Died	14 Nov 2012	Farmington, San Juan, New Mexico, USA
  Person ID	I2695	My Family Tree | McGee-Christensen
  Last Modified	21 Jul 2015

  
  

  Father	Joseph Carr McGee,   b. 18 May 1888, Noble, Ozark, Missouri, USA ,   d. 24 Sep 1939, Cortez, Montezuma, Colorado, USA  (Age 51 years)
  Mother	Pearl Vilate Stolworthy,   b. 6 Aug 1888, Huntington, Emery, Utah, USA ,   d. 19 Feb 1953, Farmington, San Juan, New Mexico, USA  (Age 64 years)
  Married	10 Feb 1909	Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
  Family ID	F1024	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 28 Apr 1917 - Kirtland, San Juan, New Mexico, USA Died - 14 Nov 2012 - Farmington, San Juan, New Mexico, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos

  Joseph and Pearl McGee Family Back row: Jewel, Roscoe, Melvin Front row: Fern, Carr, Kenneth (Kelly), Pearl, Ardell Circa 1926

  
  

  Documents		1920 US Census for Joseph Carr McGee Name: Carr Mc Gee Age: 31 Birth Year: abt 1889 Birthplace: Missouri Home in 1920: Fruitland, San Juan, New Mexico House Number: Farm Race: White Gender: Male Spouse's Name: Pearl McGee Occupation: Farmer Industry: General Farm Home Owned or Rented: Own Home Free or Mortgaged: Free Able to Read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Household Members: 1. Carr McGee: Age 31 2. Pearl McGee: Age 30 3. Melvin McGee: Age 10 4. Roscoe McGee: Age 7 5. Jewell McGee: Age 5 6. Fern McGee: Age 2
  		1930 US Census for Joseph Carr McGee Name: J Carr Mcgee Birth Year: abt 1888 Gender: Male Race: White Birthplace: Missouri Marital Status: Married Home in 1930: Precinct 4, San Juan, New Mexico Home Owned or Rented: Owned Lives on Farm: Yes Age at First Marriage: 20 Attended School: No Able to Read and Write: Yes Father's Birthplace: Tennessee Mother's Birthplace: Mississippi Occupation: Farmer Class of Worker: Employer Household Members: 1. J Carr Mcgee: Age 42 2. Pearl Mcgee: Age 41 3. Melvin C Mcgee: Age 20 4. Roscoe Mcgee: Age 17 5. Jewel Mcgee: Age 16 6. Fern Mcgee: Age 12 7. Kenneth Mcgee: Age 8

  
  

• Notes

  Born Fern McGee in Kirtland, as a youth she helped with her family's trading posts on the reservation, still using horse-drawn wagons. Fern completed an Associate's Degree at Snow College Utah, then taught at a BIA reservation school. In 1939, she became the assistant to the Farmington town manager. In 1942, Fern was selected for the first Women's Army Auxiliary Corps Officer's Training, and was commissioned equivalent to an Army Second Lieutenant. She traveled around the U.S. for Army recruiting and military administration. In 1946, 1st Lt. McGee applied for discharge and married Army Cpt. George Duckworth. The couple moved widely on Army assignments ranging from the Panama Canal Zone to Alaska. In 1957 to 1958, in Washington, D.C., Lt. Colonel Duckworth was in charge of ceremonial honor guards, and Fern arranged formal social receptions for visiting dignitaries including Queen Elizabeth and the Shah of Iran. When Colonel Duckworth retired in 1970, they settled in Farmington. Fern joined the San Juan Hospital Auxiliary as a volunteer occupational therapist. She remained active in the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), giving school presentations on WWII U.S. history. For over fifty years Fern was a prolific artisan of beautifully hand painted ceramics that decorate thousands of home around the country. Fern is survived by her husband, George Duckworth; sons, George Jr. ""Hal"" and David; four grandchildren and two great-grandsons. A funeral service for Fern will be 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, at Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home with Bishop Jared Lusk of Farmington 2nd Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints conducting. Interment will follow in Memory Gardens, 6917 E. Main St. in Farmington with full military honors provided by VFW Post #2182 of Farmington. The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to all relatives and friends who were so kind and supportive during this time. Your kindness will always be remembered. Fern's care is entrusted to Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute St. in Farmington, 505-325-8688. Published in Farmington Daily Times from November 15 to November 22, 2012