Willia Dean Ferguson

          Graveside services for Willia Dean Ferguson, 93, of Lufkin, will be held Monday, February 19, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. at the Garden of Memories Memorial Park in Lufkin, Texas with Brother Horace Fletcher officiating.

          Willia Dean (Carr) Ferguson was born in Wells, Texas on May 18, 1924, the third daughter born to the late William R. Carr and Lillian (Mathis) Carr. Mrs. Ferguson went to be with her Savior on February 17, 2018. “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord”. 2 Corinthians 5:8

         Mrs. Ferguson graduated from Wells High School in 1942, where she played basketball. Because of the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, upon graduation, Dean went to work in Orange at the ship yard, Bludworth Marine LLC, with her best friend Vi. Dean and Vi met their soon to be husbands at the USO in Orange, Texas. In the course of their courtship, Bob was deployed to his ship, the USS Aulick. Having little or no time together, Bob proposed marriage to Dean in a letter. Naturally, she accepted his proposal. When the USS Aulick docked for repairs in Bremerton, Washington on November 14, 1943, Dean and Vi had the opportunity to take a train to Bremerton, where the couples celebrated their love with a double wedding ceremony which took place on November 24, 1943.

        As a member of the GREATEST GENERATION, Dean lived her life to the fullest, as she jumped into the war efforts. Even after having children, Dean continued working throughout her life to help her husband support their family. Dean was faithful to her church family at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Lufkin. Dean retired from J C Penney’s after 25 years. And of Course, enjoyed telling her family the stories about the computers she worked, and fought with, daily. Dean enjoyed working with her hands, caring for her grandchildren, playing 42, and traveling to see her Yankee husband’s family in Pennsylvania and New York.

       God gifted Dean with the talent of needle work, crochet and embroidery, as well as sewing. Dean was very generous with her work, with many family and friends enjoying her talent. Dean’s hand work had thread, yarn, and time involved in the making. But mostly her work was steeped in love. Dean taught many of her grandchildren to crochet….a talent some still practice today. Crossword puzzles were quickly solved by Mrs. Dean, who liked nothing better than working through an entire book of them in one sitting.

       Survivors include her son, Bobby and wife Barbara Ferguson; daughter, Susan and husband Mike Clark, all of Lufkin; grandchildren, Julie and Glenn Kimble; Angie Ferguson; Robby Ferguson; Jeremy and Danielle Ferguson; Lacy and Chance Havard; and Haley and Chase Pixley; 8 great-grandchildren; sister, Norma Dell Gurganus; along with numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.

       In addition to her parents, Mrs. Ferguson was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Dean Ferguson; son, Jerry Dean Ferguson; sisters, Florence Calhoun and Mary Estelle Talley; and brothers, William Mural Carr and Wayne Robert Carr.

          A special thank you to Dr. Joey Koch for ministering to our Mother and to us.

          In addition, a note of gratitude to the Hospice in the Pines’ nurses and staff.

          In lieu of flowers, donations to Hospice in the Pines would be welcomed.

          Dean will be greatly missed by her family and friends and will be remembered for her wisdom, the compassion shown to others, and her devotion to her family.

          Shafer Funeral Home, directors.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Willia Dean Ferguson, please visit our floral store.