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Venita F. Kern of Whittington

Venita F. Kern, 93, of Whittington passed away Sunday night, Dec. 31, 2017, surrounded by her family.

She was born Sept. 18, 1924, in Whittington, the daughter of William C. and Iva (McCann) Baxter.

She married Edgar Griffen on April 3, 1948, and he died on August 28, 1963. She then married Etherd Kern May 29, 1970, and he died April 9, 1980.

Mrs. Kern had worked as a cook at Whittington Grade School for several years. She had worked Tuesday School at Rescue Church since it began. She worked at Burton's Cafe for many years and managed the cafe for a couple of those years. Then she retired from the dietary department at Franklin Hospital.

Mrs. Kern was a faithful member of Rescue Free Will Baptist Church since 1938 and served as church treasurer for several of those years.

She is survived by niece Loma Baxter of Whittington; great-niece Traci Kelley and husband Marty of Whittington; three great-great-nephews, Daylon, Jace and Lane Kelley; stepsister Barbara Lemons of Mt. Vernon; stepdaughter Melba Unitis and husband Edward of Huntersville, N.C.; and step-niece Cindy Wisnieski.

Mrs. Kern was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands; brother Charles W. Baxter; sister and brother-in-law Wanda Lee and Victor Crowder; and nephew Charles M. Baxter.

Funeral servicves will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018, at Rescue Free Will Baptist Church in Whittington with the Rev. Bryant Harris officiating. Burial will be at Williams Chapel Cemetery in Ewing. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Morton and Johnston Funeral Home in Benton and after 1 p.m. Sunday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Rescue Free Will Baptist Church.

For more information or to sign the online guest register, visit mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com.