Mae Ferne Bridgford

Memorial service 10:00 am Saturday, April 24, 2021 at The Church on The Hill. MAE FERNE BRIDGFORD, 89, passed away March 18, 2021 at Retirement Ranch in Clovis, New Mexico. Ferne was born October 21, 1931 to Carl Edward Brown and Lida May Llewelyn Brown in Pretty Prairie, Kansas. She had an older brother, Charles Edward Brown, and a younger brother, Thomas Llewelyn Brown. Ferne grew up as a farm girl in a small town. She obtained a teaching certificate and taught 1st - 4th grades for a year in Murdock, Kansas. Miss Ferne Brown married Jack Lindbergh Bridgford on May 27, 1951. Their three children were Linda Joanne, Ilene Marie and Norman Eugene Bridgford. Ferne was an amazing, creative lady with a generous heart, a great sense of humor, a green thumb and she played to win. Always interested in helping young people, Ferne was a Girl Scout Leader in Rolla, Missouri; a Cub Scout Den Mother, a Volunteer Reading Teacher, a school bus driver for extremely challenged children and was Mother Advisor for Rainbow Girls in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Ferne was good at getting people enthused and involved. With fellow employees she helped hundreds of volunteers in a human chain move thousands of books in the Santa Fe Public Library to its new building. She gave her all to every job she worked at: waitress, fabric store clerk, nursing home aide, library assistant, and records clerk at the Bureau of Land Management. Ferne was a member of the Order of Eastern Star and served as Worthy Matron. She was interested in family history and always grew flowers in her well-kept yard. Many friends and neighbors enjoyed her Swedish tea rings, cookies and decorated cakes. She spent her life serving others and training people to be the best they could be. Ferne was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Charles and Thom Brown, her husband Jack Bridgford, daughter Linda Ramirez, son Norman Bridgford, and great-granddaughter Elvia Sifuentes. She is survived by her daughter Ilene Koll (Lee), 5 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren: Michael Justin Elzey and his children Joanna Marie Elzey, Mikaela Jasmin Elzey, Dylan Gregory Elzey and Justin Thane Elzey; Katie Lynn Sifuentes and son Diego Alonzo Herrera; Brandy Marie Rodriguez (Gabriel) and children Marlene Lizette Ortiz, Jonathan Damian Jurado, Gabrielle Jacklin Rodriguez and Randy Gabriel Rodriguez; Sarah Marie Sena (Gerald) and sons Ezra Michael Sena and Noah Eli Sena; and Jamie Ann Wall (Wesley) and daughters Beau Leslie Wall and Rio Marie Wall. A Memorial service will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, April 24, 2021 at The Church on the Hill in Ft. Sumner, NM. To place an online tribute, sign the guest book or share a favorite memory go to www.chavezfuneralhome.com Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, New Mexico.