Fern Fairchild, 87, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois passed away at 5:00 A.M. on Thursday, April 18, 2013 at her home in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Fern was born on Saturday, August 29, 1925 in Dahlgren, Illinois the daughter of Emery V. and Juanita I. (King) Seel. She married Warren Dycus Fairchild on October 30, 1955 in Mt. Vernon, Illinois and he preceded her in death on May 21, 1983. Surviving family members include her 2 daughters: Sharon Hertenstein of Sevierville, Tennessee and Jackie B. Bennett and husband Jim of Ewing, Illinois; son: Warren Dycus Fairchild, Jr. and wife Cara of Dix, Illinois; 5 grandchildren: Traci Bernard and husband Alfie Mensing of Germantown, Illinois, Sara Fairchild of St. Louis, Missouri, Katherine Fairchild of Mt. Vernon, Illinois and Autumn Austin and Abigail Bennett of Ewing, Illinois; great granddaughter: Whitney Bernard of Mt. Vernon, Illinois; sister: Violet Nadine Loss of Benton, Illinois; brother: Emery Seel of Bloomington, Illinois; several nieces and nephews also survive. Her parents, husband, granddaughter: Stephanie McAdoo Cramer, step grandson: Brian Savage and son-in-law: Bill Hertenstein preceded her in death. Fern worked as a sales clerk at Sears in Mt. Vernon for 16 years and was of the Christian faith. The family would like to send a special thank you to neighbors and friends at Rose Lane for loving mom as much as we did. CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICES: will be held at 6:00 P.M. on Sunday, April 21, 2013 at Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Reverend Roger Loss will officiate. In honor of her wishes, she was cremated and no visitation will be held. For those who wish, memorials may be given to Shriner's Children's Hospital and to Autism Foundation and will be accepted at the funeral home or may be mailed to to Hughey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 721, Mt. Vernon, Illinois 62864.