Fern Eades celebrated turning 105 years old with her great-great-granddaughter, Khoralee and her family on Tuesday, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
ST. GEORGE — Her baby-blue eyes sparkled as she smiled at the question of her secret to turning 105 years old. Fern Tennison Eades celebrated the milestone with her family on Tuesday in her son’s home.
“I just love people,” Eades said.
During her life, she enjoyed jobs that introduced her to many different people. Eades and her husband had various businesses, including a hotel in Idaho.
When they moved to Salt Lake City she worked in a two-story restaurant downtown. They also co-owned the Sprouse-Reitz stores, a chain of five-and-dime stores popular in the western United States.
“I’ve lived a good life; that’s all I can say,” Eades said. “I’ve lived a clean life, no drinking, no running around.”
Her son Ronald, 71 years old, who is also her caregiver, said, “The Lord takes good care of her.”
Eades began life in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1918. She was born to Frank and Opal Tennison. She had four sisters, Ermylee, Fay, Ruby and Betty. Her family moved to Colorado when she was nine years old and she remembers the train ride vividly.
Later, she married Stacy Eades on Jan. 25, 1938 and were married for 62 years. They had three boys Phil, Jim and Ronald. Her husband and two older sons have passed on. She lives with her youngest son, has three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Her granddaughter, Annette Greenfield, said she is impressed with her grandmother’s great memory and that Eades has only recently needed a walker.
Photo Gallery
Stacy and Fern Eades were married for 62 years, St. George, Utah | Photo courtesy of Annette Greenfield, St. George News
Fern Tennison Eades celebrated the milestone of turning 105 years old on Tuesday with her family, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
Fern Tennison Eades celebrated her 105 year old birthday with her great-great-granddaughter and family, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
Fern Tennison Eades was married to Stacy Eades, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw
A photo of Fern Tennison Eades from 1940, she celebrated turning 105 years old with her family, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
An earlier photograph of Fern Tennison Eades who celebrated 105 years with her family, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Annette Greenfield, St. George News
Fern Tennison Eades pictured with her siblings in her younger years, she turned 105 years old on Tuesday, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Annette Greenfield, St. George News
Fern Tennison Eades pictured with her siblings in her younger years, she turned 105 years old on Tuesday, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Annette Greenfield, St. George News
Fern Tennison Eades's extended family, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Annette Greenfield, St. George News
Fern Tennison Eades with her son Ronald at her 105 birthday party, St. George, Utah, July 26, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stephanie DeGraw is an award-winning journalist. For 25 years, she engaged in journalism, broadcasting and public relations. DeGraw worked for the Salt Lake Tribune, Associated Press and The City Journals. She was a reporter for a CBS television station in Twin Falls, Idaho. She graduated from Weber State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Broadcasting.