NORA JEAN FERGUSON was born January 25, 1933, in Brent, Oklahoma to Percy Allen Toney (of VanBuren, Ark) and Maggie May Christenberry Toney (of Brent, Ok). Nora married Wayne Ferguson on December 16, 1955, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at her sister’s home.
SURVIVORS include her husband, Wayne Ferguson of Tulsa. Sisters Lois (Jack) Armstrong and Velma Rider, both of Sallisaw; and Zelma Glass of Muskogee. There are also many nieces, nephews and friends.
PRECEDED in death by 5 sisters, Ollice Risenhoover, Lorene Peters, Mildred Ward, Margaret Timmerman and Beulah Mae Toney; and 5 brothers, Boyd Toney, Lloyd Toney, Haskell Toney, Raymond Toney and Wayne Toney.
Nora Jean graduated high school in 1952, she attended college in Denver, Colorado where she also obtained Certification in Business Administration from IBM; and Medical Transcriptionist Certification.
Nora attended the Dawson Nazarene Church in Northern Tulsa. It was at church she met Bill and Jackie Davis. Bill and Jackie invited Nora to stay with them until she could get settled in her new job and make it on her own. She stayed with Bill and Jackie while she was working in Tulsa. She met her future husband, the nephew of Bill and Jackie, when he was honorably discharged from the service in July, 1951. He had come to visit his Aunt and Uncle, and was introduced to Nora. Wayne and Nora started dating and were married in December, 1955.
They lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, then moved to Denver, Colorado, living there for 12 years. Then they settled in Collinsville, Oklahoma in 1976. In Collinsville, she took a position at the Memorial Hospital; and later to Saint Francis Hospital, Tulsa.
They attended the Nazarene Church of Collinsville, and loved their church family and friends, she also enjoyed reading, going to garage sales, and working in the yard. When her dementia became a reality in her life, she spent most of her time at home. Nora’s sister, Lois, cared for her while Wayne was at his dialysis treatments; a time consuming, yet rewarding job that required patience and understanding. When Wayne’s dialysis port became infected and he was eventually transferred to long-term care; Nora was placed in memory care.
Nora had overcome several serious conditions and eventually, under the care of the Saint Simeons staff, she began to improve in her physical and emotional health. She loved her caregivers at Saint Simeons, especially Debra; and she loved her room, it was her home away from home, and she called it “home”. She had familiar pictures of her family all around, and she enjoyed talking about them. She looked forward to her visits with Wayne, and Rose made sure they were enjoyable and frequent.
Many prayers were made on Nora’s behalf that contributed to the peace, comfort and joy that she found in her later years of life. God blessed her daily, and blessed others through her. She was a precious little lady, with a bright smile and childlike giggle, who looked forward to every visit of her husband of 60 years 6 months. Every day was a new day for her, and she made those days enjoyable for others.
Visitation for Nora will be at Mowery Funeral Service on Friday, June 17, 2016 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM on Saturday, June 18th in the Chapel of Mowery Funeral Service with Rev. Herman Wood officiating. Nora will be laid to rest in the Ridgelawn Cemetery, Collinsville, OK. Arrangements and services have been entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service of Owasso.
