Fern Broadway

Fern Thompson Broadway

1922 – 2019

Fern Thompson Broadway, 96, of Vidor, Texas went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, January 5, 2019 surrounded by his wife Audrey and family. Fern was born on May 9, 1922 in La Camp, Vernon Parish, Louisiana to Charley Thompson and Etta Edna Broadway; he was the third of 10 children, Fern attended Pickering High School in Pickering, Louisiana and worked with his father as a logger after high school. Fern drove a cab at Ft. Polk, Louisiana during World War II before serving his country in the Merchant Marine for 2 years.

Fern liked to drive, he drove cabs, Beaumont city buses, and trucks to the chemical plants; he was a member of Teamsters Local 920. Fern was walking down Laurel Street in Beaumont, Texas wearing denim pants and a denim shirt when he caught the eye of a young telephone company operator, Audrey Huff, upon seeing Fern, Audrey knew he was the man God had for her to marry, and with the help of friends she determined to trap him. They would eventually start dating and while attending a Roy Rogers and Dale Evans concert at the county fair, Fern proposed, and they were married on March 4, 1949. Fern was a very attentive husband, helpful, making sure Ms. Audrey had the things she needed. They enjoyed 69 years, 10 months and 1 day of marriage. Fern and Audrey had 6 children, 16 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Fern loved family and would do whatever it took to take care of them; even driving to Colorado in a blizzard to help his children and grandchildren. He had a big heart and was thoughtful and considerate. One of Fern’s favorite sayings was, “Coffee makes hair grow on your chest.” Fern enjoyed fishing and he loved dogs. Fern was a man of faith and served as a deacon at Shiloh Baptist Church in Vidor, Texas and he was a longtime member of Maplecrest Baptist Church in Vidor, Texas.  Fern will be missed by those he knew and loved.

Fern is survived by his loving wife Audrey Broadway; children, Rebecca Reviea and husband Art, Douglas Broadway and wife Jeannie, Kenneth Broadway and wife Ruth, and Jeffrey Broadway, all of Vidor, Texas, Nancy Alexander, and husband, Ken of Nederland, Texas, and Janet Christian, and husband, Jim of Elgin, Texas; 16 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren; sisters, Doris Burns of Spring, Texas and Rita Broadway, and husband, Max Deason; a sister-in-law, Linda Broadway; numerous other family members and friends.

A life honoring memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. at Maplecrest Baptist Church of Vidor, 17694 IH10, Vidor, Texas 77662

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