‘I’ve lived a good life’: Southern Utah lady turns 105 years old

Written by Stephanie DeGraw
July 29, 2023
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.

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

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.

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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.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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