Ferne I. Beight

Columbiana, OH-May 4, 2012-Ferne I. Beight, 91, formerly of East Palestine, died late Friday afternoon at Whispering Pines Village in Columbiana.

Ferne was born November 16, 1920 in Washingtonville, a daughter of Roy and Anna Schopfer Zimmerman.

She was a 1938 high school graduate of Greenford High School and received her Bachelor and Master's degree from Kent State University. Her first teaching experience was done in the former North Lima High School and the former Goshen Township High School. She then was a business education teacher for Columbiana High School for 35 years.

Ferne was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church of East Palestine, the East Palestine George F. McBane Post #31 American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, East Palestine Friends of the Library and the Ohio Retired Teachers Association.

Her first husband, Samuel A. Jackson, whom she married June 16, 1942, died January 6, 1971. Her second husband, Claude "Dick" Beight, whom she married June 23, 1980, died April 22, 2009.

She is survived by a daughter, Sammae (Paul) Schulz of Richmond, KY; a step daughter, Claudia (Jerry) Prayzac of Bradenton, FL; a son, Roy Jackson of North Lima; a step-son, Richard (Laura) Beight of East Palestine; four grandchildren, Dr. Paul (Dr. Brittany) Schulz, Jennifer Dobrzynski, Jeffrey (Amy) Jackson and David Jackson; three step grandchildren, Craig Beight, Korie Beight and Lee Beight; and eight great grandchildren, Elizabeth Jackson, Madelyn Jackson, Haley Dobrzynski, Garrett Schulz, Kayla Beight, Lily Jackson, Samuel Schulz and Matthew Schulz.

A Memorial Service will be held 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 12, 2012 at Whispering Pines Village, Columbiana.

In lieu of flowers, material tributes in Ferne's memory may be directed to Whispering Pines Village Fund Raiser Account, which is used for local charities and contributions back to the community.

Van Dyke-Swaney-Rettig Funeral Home, East Palestine handled the arrangements.