Ferne Lee (Shay) Lehn (96) of Boise, Idaho passed away after a short illness, on March 6, 2024 at Grace Assisted Living in Boise Idaho. Ferne was born on January 2, 1928 in Port Jervis, NY, the first of four children born to Carlton Shay and Helen Ruoff Shay Growing up in Matamoras, PA, Ferne attended Matamoras High School, graduating in 1946. She then went on to attend St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing, graduating as a registered nurse in 1949.
Ferne met her true love, Jacob John Lehn, in October 1946 and they were married in Elizabeth City, North Carolina while Jacob was in the Navy Air Force in 1951 Jack (the name she called him) was an instructor of electronics at the Naval Base of Millington (outside of Memphis) Tennessee were they lived in base housing. They then traveled to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, Washington, where Jack was discharged. They moved to Endwell, NY in 1954. Jack worked for IBM and Ferne worked at Ideal Hospital as head nurse and supervisor of the newborn nursery It was there that they had four children, three boys and one girl: John, Jeffery, Daniel, and JoAnne Helen.
Ferne was always busy helping others, she volunteered for the Hospital Auxiliary, Blood Bank, was a member of the Eastern Stars (Pocono Chapter 62) and Daughters of the Revolution. She cooked for Meals on Wheels and was a Charter member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Endwell, NY. Ferne moved to Boise in 2000 to be closer to her sons Jeffery and Daniel. She loved the Boise area and made many friends there. After much searching, she found her church family at King of Glory Lutheran Church.
While in Boise she became a water aerobics instructor for the YMCA (at the age of seventy three)! She also enjoyed playing pinochle and running the cash register for the thrift store at Dick Eardley Senior Center. In 2018, she moved to Grace Assisted Living, where she made many friends and became a favorite of the staff. There, she enjoyed knitting caps and blankets for new borns, Wi-Bowling, Bingo, and was in charge of the puzzle collection.
Ferne is survived by her two sons Jeffery (Boise, Idaho) and Daniel (Missoula, Mt) and sister in laws Denise (Carlton) Shay, Florida, Marilynn (Robert) Carroll, Port Jervis, NY., Charlene (Russell) Lehn of Port Jervis, NY, Joan (Donald) Donohue, Woodstock, NY., Helen (Richard) Schnier, Port Washington, NY., and brother in Law, Robert (Sally) Lehn, Sparrowbush, NY, along with numerous nieces and nephews
Preceding Ferne in death are her parents Carlton and Helen Shay, her husband Jacob, son John, daughter JoAnne, brothers Allen and Carlton (Sonny), and sister Shirley Basham, sister in law Barbara Newcomb, Port Jervis, brother in law Russell Lehn, Port Jervis, as well and father and mother in law Jacob and Helen Lehn, also of Port Jervis
Instead of flowers, please make donations in Ferne’s name to King of Glory Lutheran Church, 3430 N. Maple Grove Rd Boise, Id 83704.
Internment of Cremains will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Matamoras Pennsylvania, at a later date.