DALLAS — The State Fair of Texas is back after canceling last year due to COVID-19, but unfortunately it’s missing an icon that helped perfect the fair favorite funnel cake.

Wanda Winter, who most knew as Fernie, died in June. Family members say Fernie and her husband John first came to the State Fair of Texas during their days as round dance callers, but they became a fair staple in 1969 when they opened their food stand featuring their iconic funnel cakes.

Though the funnel cake is available at countless fairs and concession stands, many state fair goers came to know Fernie’s as the best. 

“It does take a little bit of an art,” said Johnna McKee.

Fernie’s daughter, Johnna McKee and her sister Christi Erpillo now lead their various family members and staff in carrying on Fernie’s funnel cake legacy at their main stand at the Dock on the state fairgrounds. Erpillo showed off their memorial wall to their mom, an entire wall of their food court covered in pictures of Fernie with celebrities, news reporters, friends, and family over the years.

“We’re making sure she still watches over us,” said Erpillo. “This is her kingdom and that was her throne right there.”

Erpillo motioned to the purple, velvet draped chair with Fernie’s name on it and the black and white shawl she’d often wear while there. That chair became Fernie’s throne in recent years as she continued to oversee operations of their funnel cake stand well into her late years.

The sisters say that the throne will now sit empty as a tribute to their mom, as will all of their funnel cake operations during this fair.

“That first phone call that we didn’t get to make to tell her what was going on today was hard,” said McKee.

The sisters said it was tough on Fernie missing the 2020 fair. McKee said the fair meant a lot to Fernie, even in her final days. McKee recalled how her mom didn’t speak much toward the end of her life until she heard her daughters talking about funnel cake business.

“We’re in this conversation about how much is it gonna cost and all the sudden we hear mom and she said, ‘did we make it?’ And we literally just grabbed our hands and said, ‘she hasn’t talked in 2 weeks!’ And she said ‘did we make it?’” said McKee.

The question, McKee and Erpillo believe, was in reference to the Big Tex Choice Awards at the fair. Their funnel cake stand racked up a number of honors for more than 50 years.

The sisters say no matter the accolades or even the sales to come out of this 2021 fair, they're dedicating it to Fernie, and will make sure her legacy lives on.