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page 2.
siblings
George
and Margaret Ferguson had eleven children.
Pictured here are ten (hope to add
the missing Adabelle at some point altho there's one of her quite young on p.2.). Birth/death dates are taken mostly
from a list I found Nanny had made. It was not always clear which dates applied to which person so these dates are not entirely reliable... but in the ball park. It was just a draft, her thinking out loud casually on paper.
top left is Thelma,1906
- 1990, married Axel Johnson, died 5 months before Papa and was nine
years older. The photo was taken in 1937, standing next to the younger
Nanny who married her brother that year... with a wonderful old house
up on the hill. She wasthe missing Adabelle at some point altho there's one of her quite young on p.2.). Birth/death dates are taken mostly
from a list I found Nanny had made. It was not always clear which dates applied to which person so these dates are not entirely reliable... but in the ball park. It was just a draft, her thinking out loud casually on paper.
an amateur painter in her later years.
top right is Orville... 1912? - 1978. I think he died of a heart attack in Arizona where he had retired. He had a pink Pontiac in the 50s, and in the rear window, a model of that same Pontiac. I saw him at the basefall field once, at a game - I might have been 8. He just looked at my confusion, amused while I took in the familiar yet unknown face, finally telling me who he was and laughing.
Left: Eleanor 1909 - 1990, is between two friends, before she was married, it says on the back. Eleanor died the same year
as Papa, making three sibling all dying the same year, Thelma in May, Papa October, Eleanor December. There was a falling
out when she accused Papa, in her demtia probably, of stealing from her. I saw her after that only briefly at his funeral.
Murph - I suppose that is a nick name, Tynne being the one on the birth certificate (I'm guessing here, based on
what was writen on the back). Murph died of cancer not long after her daughter Phyliss was taken by the same terrorist,
way too young. Murph's husband Phil Matt died in 1987 or 88. Phyliss in 87... she lived in Manhattan.
lower left: Betty, 1919 - 1979, married Jack Downey, a fire fighter. Standing next to Nanny 1916 - 2005.
...written on the back, "Betty & me at girl scout camp - Au Train, May 1932"
Mary 1912 - 1987, married Ray Morin who died later that same year. They also lived, or retired to, Arizona
fleeing the harsh U.P. winters. Ray returned to Marquette after Mary's death and died there shortly after.
He was "dating" Thelma at the time. Their son Bobby died at age 12 of leukemia. Mary advised me to not do
what they did and only have one child. This is her graduation photo, 1931, so 1912 doesn't seem right as birth year.
left: Marilyn, 1931 - 1997, married to Everett Snyder, had a motel in Naubinway, Michigan, along Lake Michigan.
She approached me at Papa's funeral and said, "I bet you don't know who I am!" She was right and I
was embarrassed. She dropped over to Nanny's sometime after Everett died. I was old enough then to
be somewhat sympathetic but still, pretty distant.
right: Patsy... 1932 - 1995, married Rusty Rustenhoven d.2005, and moved to California, never to be seen again, by me.
Died of cancer (took a lot of Fergusons - even if they changed names). Rusty came back to Marquette a few times
after her death and his retirement. I remember her as impatient with me, critical... maybe I was bratty. I looked in
the mirror once when in art school in Milwaukee and saw her face.
Added this one of Floyd (Papa) 1915 - 1990, which is also on his page.
James (snooky) was thrown from an out-of-control car which then rolled
over him. I think he was 21. Nanny said that Papa was inconsolable. The photo is
appropriately fading - a photocopy of the original.
back page 2. siblings