Miriam L. Ferguson

Miriam L. Ferguson, 79, of Mt. Pleasant, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007, at Pleasant Manor Care Center of Mt. Pleasant.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28, at Beatty-Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 120 South Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, with President Ed Conwell officiating. Burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery in Morning Sun.

Memorials have been established to the Pleasant Manor Care Center Activity Fund.      Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.beattymurphyfh.com.

She was born Sept. 5, 1928 in rural Louisa County, the daughter of Earl and Frances Moyers Harrison. On June 17, 1948, she was united in marriage to Don L. Ferguson in Burlington. They later divorced.

She graduated from Burlington High School. In 1970, she returned to college at Southeastern Community College and earned a degree as a licensed practical nurse. She worked in the neo-natal units at the Burlington Medical Center before moving to Tucson, Ariz., where she worked at the University of Arizona Medical Center, specializing in care of special needs newborns. She was a registered foster care provider, and her family included numerous foster children. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was an accomplished seamstress, and enjoyed making clothing for family and friends.

Miriam is survived by her children, Sheila Gorsuch and her husband Jay of Benson, Ariz., Hope Jennett and her husband Dale of Morning Sun, Eileen Doneson and her husband Mark of Arizona City, Ariz., Joy Lynn Conwell and her husband Ed of Salem, and Wayde Ferguson of Mt. Pleasant; one sister, Wanda Lea Goodell of Cheyenne, Wyo.; one brother, Floyd Harrison of Garland, Texas; 10 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews, along with her many caregivers at Pleasant Manor Care Center where she resided for the past 10 years.

Her parents, four children, one granddaughter, and one great-grandson preceded her in death.