Vera Louise “Lou” Kern, 74, Osawatomie, died Monday April 9, 2012 at the Life Care Center in Osawatomie.

“Lou” as she was known, was born Nov, 9, 1937. She was the youngest of three children born to Clarence Edward and Margaret Irene Ginbey Hutton.

She graduated from Chanute High School in the Class of 1956.

On Jan. 5, 1957 Lou married David Lee “Duke” Kern in Chanute.

“Lou” worked from 1971-1979 for the Neosho County Sheriff’s Department as a dispatcher and jailer. She also worked as a dispatcher for the Osawatomie Police Department for 18 years from 1983 until retiring in 2001.

Lou was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one sister, Joy Barton, and one grandson, Travis Ray Kern.

She is survived by three sons, David Lee Kern Jr., Osawatomie, Jody Ray Kern, Osawatomie, and Mark Edward Kern, Lee’s Summit, Mo.; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Cremation arrangements are being handled by Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home, Osawatomie. There are no services planned.