The Twenty-Third Psalm 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul;
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil for thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me
in the presence of mine enemies.
Thou anointest my head with oil;
My cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days of my life
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
for ever.

      Fern Steinman, 91, of Mexico, died at 4:20 a.m., today, July 9, 2003, at Audrain Medical Center in Mexico.

Funeral services will be held on Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Pickering Funeral Home in Mexico with the Rev. Dale Stone and Rev. Steve Castaneda officiating. Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the service on Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in East Lawn Memorial Park.

Mrs. Steinman was born on Nov. 3, 1911, in Rush Hill, the daughter of Charles Ross and Flora Mae Edson Mechlin. Her mother died soon after her birth. She went to school in Rush Hill, and graduated from Centralia High School. She attended two years at Hardin College in Mexico. After college she worked for her aunt who owned an ice cream and candy parlor on North Washington Street in Mexico. She had also worked in the Mexico Public Schools and Audrain Hospital in food service.

On June 19, 1932, in Auxvasse, she married August Nicholas Steinman, who died on July 26, 1985. Mr. Steinman’s family owned and operated the Steinman Shoe Store in Mexico for over three generations.

Mrs. Steinman was a life member of the Mexico United Methodist Church, and enjoyed being a member of the McPheeters-Randolph-Edwards church circle for many years. She was also a member of the Rohlfing Circle of Kings Daughters. She was a wonderful cook during her lifetime, and to this day her family still remembers and appreciates all the Wednesday noon luncheons and holiday meals she prepared. Most of all, she was a kind, giving, nurturing person who loved people and they loved her.

Survivors include two sons, Ben Steinman and wife Shirley, Mexico, and Robert Steinman and wife Marcella, Columbia; a daughter Beth Ann Castaneda-Steinman, Columbia; four brothers, Melvin Mechlin, Macon, Paul Mechlin, Mexico, Keith Mechlin, St. Charles, and Donald Mechlin, Clinton; one sister, Mrs. Merle Reynolds, St. Louis; 15 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

One son, Bernard Steinman, preceded her in death.

The family suggests memorials be sent to the Mexico United Methodist Church or to the Kings Daughters Home in Mexico.

 Pickering Funeral Home  
Caring Service Since 1884