Fern Davye, Lecturer in the Luminosity of Language, made her final exit from the stage of life on April 30, 2009, at Hospice Family Care in Prescott, Ariz. She was born to Ben and Zelia (Strauss) White on May 6, 1951, in Amityville, N.Y.

Fern loved the students and made many contributions to the spirit of the College. Fern once served as our purveyor of texts and great literature, managing the bookstore. She taught courses in poetry and co-taught courses in contemporary history through the arts. In recent years she toured nationally and internationally giving workshops and performances in contemporary poetry, reading the best of current writing in five languages.

Fern loved to live the good life and included all her friends and students with her in exploring the best of everything. She brought poetry to life and in doing so struck a chord in the hearts of those who had the good fortune to hear her lecture and perform. She played the English language like a musical instrument she'd invented.

She always reminded those around her how we are supposed to live: by wringing every last drop out of every moment. We'll never see the likes of her again - she was that original.

Fern is survived by her brother, Bram White, his wife Barbara and nieces Jenna and Lissa of California; her nephews Keegan and Blake Miller, the sons of her late sister Rissa and their father Warren Miller and his wife, Bronwyn, of Prescott. Also by an adoring circle of friends, mostly in Arizona, affectionately known as The Tribe. All will miss her amazingly buoyant and richly zany spirit, her extremely clever wit and her deep, rich, generous heart.

Memorials may be made to the Prescott Public Library, 315 E. Goodwin, Prescott, Ariz., 86303, or Hospice Family Care, 100 E. Sheldon Street, Suite 100, Prescott, AZ 86301.

Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home assisted the family. You are invited to sign Fern's guestbook and share a memory with the family @ www.ruffnerwakelin.com.

Printed in The Presocott Daily Courier, May 9, 2009