Fern Eileen (Ingraham) Goemmer Obituary (1924

SOME REMEMBRANCES OF FERN INGRAHAM GOEMMER'S LIFE Fern E. Goemmer of Gig Harbor passed from this Earth into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 23, 2016. Fern was born in Woodworth, North Dakota on December 8, 1924. She was 91 years old. She was the daughter of Lee Ingraham and Eileen Thompson Ingraham. After growing up in North Dakota and Indiana, the family moved to Prosser, Washington where Fern graduated from high school with the class of 1942. After graduation, she began work as a teller at the Prosser Branch of the Old National Bank of Spokane. In 1943, Fern's friend, Alice Goemmer was in Yakima, WA purchasing her wedding gown when Alice's brother Jim, who was stationed at the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, came through needing a ride to Prosser. Alice's car was full so Jim hitched a ride with Fern. The Saturday night before Christmas 1943, Jim went to an American Legion Hall dance in Prosser and as he walked in he spotted the pretty girl that had given him a ride to Prosser on his leave. He asked her to dance and they danced all evening. Jim asked to take her home but she told him she had come with someone else. To Jim's disappointment, the guy showed up to take her home. Jim continued to meet Fern at the dances and made a date for the first Saturday after Jim's squadron was transferred to the Pasco Naval Air Station, February 1, 1944. Fern and Jim had been going steady for almost two months and she said "yes" when he asked her to marry him. They decided to be married on March 30, 1944, just before Jim shipped out for the Pacific War. On March 29th, Fern met Jim at Pasco at the Franklin County Court House, to get their Wedding License. Jim's '34' Ford decided to have a fuel pump failure. A friend told him he would get it fixed while Jim and Fern walked to the courthouse. They found they had to get a time waiver, which had to be signed by a Superior Court Judge .he had gone home but only lived 3 blocks away so they walked there and back to the License Department to get the Marriage License. Jim's friend still hadn't finished getting the car fixed so Jim finished it up and they drove to Prosser. Reverend Charles Flemming was Pastor at the Presbyterian Church in Prosser and performed the ceremony. They went to Yakima for their first night, then Jim had to report into the base. They then went to Walla Walla for one night. On Easter Sunday April 16, 1944, After having been married just sixteen days, Jim was ordered to go aboard the USS Essex bound for Hawaii. Fern took Jim to Pasco so that Jim could travel to San Francisco on the train. A sad time. Fern with her usual "grit" decided to come to San Francisco too. They had two more days together. Jim's brother Dick's ship had been torpedoed at Marcus Island and was still under repairs at Alameda, CA. He joined them (awkward?). After Jim left for the Essex, Dick, took Fern out on the Golden Gate bridge to watch the "Essex" go under it. He then put her on the train for Prosser. That was the last they saw each other until November 20, 1945. Jim spent the war as a Radioman Gunner in a U.S. Navy Helldiver. After being shot up over the Philippines, he was transferred to Hawaii for the remainder of the war. A great relief for Fern. When the war ended, Jim was discharged and met his bride at the Vance Hotel in Seattle that evening. What a glorious day after nineteen months apart. The following day, Jim and Fern caught the train for Prosser. Fern and Jim arrived in Prosser late that night and spent the next few days at her parent's home and also visiting Jim's folks. In spite of the war shortages, Fern had managed to get a new engine put in the 1934 Ford and had been able to get some tires so they had good wheels. Jim applied for apprenticeship as an Auto mechanic on the job at the Ford dealer, Burrows Motor Company and their life together began. Their first house had only a cold water faucet at the sink, a small bathroom and a wood coal cook stove for heat. Baths were taken in a wash tub heated on the stove. Once in a while the stove would puff and blow soot all over everything. In 1947, they bought a new 2 bedroom home $7500.00. Fern enjoyed being a "homemaker" and kept everything "spick and span" In December of 1947, they adopted a three month old baby boy from the Washington Children's Home Foundling Society in Seattle. They named him Robert James Goemmer. In late 1950, they applied for a little girl to adopt. In April 1951, they picked up a beautiful little baby girl at Seattle. They named her Carolyn Elien. Shortly afterwards, they moved to Tacoma where Jim began work as a "Claims Adjuster". Jim was active in the Tacoma Claims Association and went through the chairs in Royal Arch Masonry. Fern was active in Eastern Star and helped for Gloria Ann Curtis Orthopedic Guild in University Place. They sang in the University Place Presbyterian Church Choir as well as every other church they attended. Fern also worked at the Bon Marche and later at Nordstrom's as well as Penny's. and the family had several dogs which they loved. They bought four acres of wooded land in Rosedale near Gig Harbor in 1965 developed it and eventually built a house there. Because of Carolynn's problems,They secured Legal Guardianship for their grandson Billy Meszaros. When Jim retired, they sold the Rosedale property and they purchased a manufactured home at "The Lakes" on the north side of Gig Harbor. They really enjoyed the community and made many good friends there. Fern required several surgeries in her later years. Fern had knee and back surgery. Advancing years and physical weakness encouraged them to move to Peninsula Retirement Residence. They celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary at Peninsula with many friends and family in attendance. Jim passed away July 26, 2013. Fern spent her Last years at Emeritis in Gig Harbor and then finally at Olympic Alzheimer's Residence in Gig Harbor. Fern was preceded in death by husband Jim, her daughter Carolynn Elien Dennis, parents, Lee and Elien Ingraham, brother Robert Ingraham, parents-in-law Katherine and Rinehart Goemmer, Jim's brother Jean Richard Goemmer, Jim's sister Margaret Louise Cornelis and her husband Willem, Jim's sister Alice Virginia Quintus and her husband Wallace Quintus. Fern is survived by her son Robert James Goemmer (Vivian), her grandson William Michael Meszaros, Jim's brother Charles Raymond Goemmer (Carol), and many other family members. Graveside services will be held at a later date at Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent Washington. Psalm 16:8-9, 11 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 8) I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9) Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. 11) You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever