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Annie Fern Cone was born April 9, 1910 near Nixon, Texas, the fourth child of Harry F. and Hallie Gray Cone. After graduating valedictorian of her class at Nixon High School she taught school for a year at Orange Grove. She attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College in San Marcos and then graduated from Mary Hardin Baylor College in Belton, Texas in 1938. She taught for a time at Devine, Texas. During WWII she worked in San Antonio as an aircraft inspector at Kelly Field. For the rest of her career, Miss Cone taught 6th grade at Will Rogers Elementary School in San Antonio. During her tenure there she attended Trinity University, earning a Master's Degree in Education. She retired from teaching in 1973. She was a more than 50-year member of the First Baptist Church in San Antonio and a member of the alumni association of Mary Hardin Baylor College. For the last 6 years she has lived at Romberg House in Gonzales. She had her 100th birthday party there in 2010, welcoming many old friends from San Antonio.

As a child, Fern was very lively and spirited. She and her younger brother Willie were very close, and in adulthood they regaled the family with tales of their hilarious adventures and mishaps. She was known during adulthood for her independence and self- reliance. She drove nothing but Chevrolets, until the age of 99. Her teaching wasn't confined to the classroom, being joyously shared with her nieces and nephews, as they were treated to nature studies of fossils, insects, and birds, nighttime star gazing, trips to the symphony, and rides in her Chevrolet.

She was devoted to close friends and family, especially to the Grays, her aunts and uncles who lived in Union Valley near Nixon. She spent much time helping them when they grew old. After their passing, she preserved their little house and land. Fern handed down many stories of the old days in Union Valley.

Fern is survived by sister-in-law Maxine Cone, nieces Martha Cone, Janet Gonthier, Erline Russell, Joy Scheel, nephew Robert O. Cone, Jr., and numerous great nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Robert O. Cone, Errol Cone, Willie F. Cone, and sister Mary Lee Thiede.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, October 2, 2015 at First Baptist Church, 515 McCullough Ave., San Antonio. Burial is in Nixon Cemetery, Nixon, TX

Arrangements by Finch Funeral Chapel LLC of Nixon (830) 582-1521.

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