Beth Ellen Ferris, 89, of Baileys Harbor, WI, and North Fort Myers, FL, passed away in the comfort of her home on Monday, September 21, 2026
. She was born July 10, 1937 in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Orville and Lucile (McClintock) Kent. Beth attended Fernwood Elementary School and graduated from Christian Fenger Community High School with the class of 1955, both in Chicago.
She first met Kenneth Earl Ferris on hay ride in high school. They were united in marriage on September 17, 1955 at Beth's home church, Greenstone United Methodist Church in Chicago. Together, Beth and Ken resided in Dolton, IL and attended Sandridge United Methodist Church before moving to Huntley, IL in the late 1980s. There, they attended First Congregational Church of Huntley.
Beth worked as teacher aide in the grade schools in Dolton and Huntley and also worked in the school library in Huntley. She and Ken resided in Huntley until they retired to The Oaks in Baileys Harbor, Door County, WI. They enjoyed wintering in North Fort Myers, FL.
Beth and Ken attended Sister Bay Moravian Church while living in Door County and Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in North Fort Myers. She was active in women's clubs at each church and was also a member of the Baileys Harbor Women's Club.
Beth and Ken belonged to the Woodenshoe Rainmakers Camping Club out of South Holland, IL. They cherished the lifelong friendships they were blessed to make through that group and continued to keep in touch everyone in that group.
Beth was an avid reader and a wonderful writer. She greatly enjoyed many activities with friends.
Beth's love will live on in the hearts of her family who will deeply miss her: her husband, Ken, with whom she shared over 71 years of marriage; children, Valerie (Ronald) Giles of Crystal Lake, IL, Steven (Darla) Ferris of Harvard, IL, and Gregory (Wendy) Ferris of Muscatine, IA; grandchildren, Daniel (Patty) Giles and Andrea (Andrew) Tyrrell, Brady (Maggie) Ferris, and Melissa (Ryan) Deihs, and Kyle (Amanda) Ferris and Bryan (Cora) Ferris; great-grandchildren, Holly and Lily Giles, Bradley, Camden, and Addison Tyrrell, Emma and Cole Ferris, Beckett Deihs, and Bennett and Liam Ferris; sister, Bonnie (Emilie) Garneau of Bloomington, IL; other relatives; and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings-in-law, Howard (Laverne) Ferris, Verna Mae (Robert) Dykstra, Earleen (William) Anderson, and Betty (Raymond) Messmaker; and other relatives.
Beth's life will be honored with a funeral service held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at Sister Bay Moravian Church in the Town of Liberty Grove, 10924 Old Stage Road, WI 54234 with Rev. Kerry Krauss officiating. She will be laid to rest in the church cemetery at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 28, 2026. Visitation for family and friends will be held at the church on Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 11:30 a.m. until 12:45 p.m.
Memorials may be given in her name for Sister Bay Moravian Church (10924 Old Stage Road, Sister Bay, WI 54234) or Good Shepherd United Methodist Church (2951 Trail Dairy Circle, North Fort Myers, FL 33917).
Arrangements have been entrusted with Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay, WI. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Beth may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.HuehnsFuneralHome.com.
