Mary E. Ferguson, 97, Tell City

Mary Elizabeth (Jamieson) Ferguson, 97, passed away on Friday, September 16, 2022, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born to Livingston Jamieson and Merle (Hyde) Jamieson on June 14, 1925, in Rochester, New York.

She was married to Roger J. Ferguson on May 12, 1956. She is survived by their children, Laura (Stephen) McDonald, James (Audrey) Ferguson and Christopher Ferguson; grandchildren, Bobby (Sarah) McDonald, Samantha (Blake) Johnston and Sean (Elizabeth) McDonald; great-grandchildren, Sophia (Eric Frazier) McDonald, Miriam McDonald, Jamieson McDonald and Keira Steward; great-great-grandchild, Rowan Frazier; as well as nieces, nephews and many other loved ones.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Livingston and Merle; her husband Roger; her son John, her brother Father Bede Jamieson, O.S.B. and her sister Barbra Ann Jamieson.

Though Mary was born in the state of New York, her family roots were in Derby. After her parents traveled extensively for the Chrysler Corporation, as her father was employed with them, the family settled back in Derby.

At the age of 14, Mary began her high school years at Academy Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand. It was during her student years that a feeling of vocation to serve the Lord was born. She was an active teen playing tennis, softball and volleyball. She played the trombone in the school band and excelled as a concert pianist. Mary possessed a beautiful soprano voice, which she would bless others with through her life. Mary was also born with a natural artistic talent for drawing and painting. At the age of 12 years old, she painted a beautiful portrait of the “Young Christ in the Temple”. At the age of 17, she was asked to paint a fresco on the ceiling of St. Mary’s Church in Derby. She accomplished this as Michelangelo did in the Sistine Chapel, by hanging backwards off a ladder, and painting the 10×20 foot images onto the ceiling of the church.

An avid horsewoman, Mary trained horses as a young girl. At the age of 19, Mary swam with her horse “Nell” across the Ohio River at Derby to bring the horse from Kentucky.

After high school, Mary felt a calling to the Monastic Life. She entered the Convent Immaculate Conception at the age of 19. She embraced her vocation as a nun, until life took her on another path. She worked at General Electric in Tell City and supported the post WWII efforts to rebuild the country. Mary then entered St. Joseph School of Nursing in Louisville, Kentucky, where she obtained her nursing degree in 1954.

As fate would have it, in 1955, Mary was called back to this area by the Benedictine sisters of Ferdinand. She went to work at the old Stork Memorial Hospital in Huntingburg. There she was assigned as a private duty nurse for a man who had been crushed under a bridge. She remarked to herself upon entering his room, “What beautiful blue eyes he had.”

They were married eight months later.

To this union, was born four children, Laura, James, John and Christopher. Mary devoted her life to her family while working full-time as a Registered Nurse. She was a Head Nurse at Jasper Memorial Hospital for years. She also worked at St. Ann’s Nursing Home, the Protestant Home and Deaconess Hospital.

She remained active in the Tell City Deanery of Catholic Women, serving as President. She was also President of the Academy Immaculate Conception Alumni. In her later years she would serve the parishes of St. Meinrad, Siberia, and Fulda as a member of the Tri-Church Choir. She coordinated the blood drives for the American Red Cross at the Archabbey in St. Meinrad till the age of 86. She also belonged to the Daughters of Isabella and The Sodality of Mary.

Mary also had a life-long hobby of crocheting. She created many beautiful designs in her craft without the benefit of patterns. Some of these earned Champion and Blue ribbons at County Fairs. She enjoyed gifting these works of art to family and friends.

Though Mary suffered great personal tragedies over the years, she never lost her faith in the Lord, and believed in the hope of an everlasting life, a belief which she shared by remaining an Oblate of St. Benedict, adhering to these teachings during her lifetime.

Mary leaves to mourn her, a family of which she was a true matriarch. She also leaves a rich legacy of faith, devotion and love which she cultivated over her 97 years, priceless gifts given by a life well lived.

Visitation will be at Becher Funeral Home in Ferdinand from 3-7 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, September 21. Visitation will continue on Thursday, September 22 from 9 to 10 a.m. CDT at St. Meinrad Parish Church, followed by Mass with burial in the church cemetery.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Spencer County Humane Society, reflecting her love of animals.