Obituary for Maryanne (Walker) Ferguson

Maryanne (Walker) Ferguson, 88, passed away Tuesday, August 14th at her home in Corydon. Mom was the only daughter born to Carl Johnson Walker and Mary Elizabeth Lowry in Dunbar, Nebraska. She joined an older brother, Gene when she was born on November 12th, 1923. She grew up a farm girl and attended school in Dunbar, NE graduating high school in 1940 in the same class as her high school sweetheart Kenneth Ferguson. Mom attended Peru State Teacher''s College in Peru, NE for one year and then began teaching school for several years in Nebraska and Iowa. Early in WWII Mom and her parents moved to the farm south of Sewal where on October 31, 1944 she married Kenneth Oliver Ferguson, her high school sweetheart, on leave from service in the South Pacific Theatre. They would go directly to Corpus Christ, Texas and then to Oklahoma to complete Dad''s Marine duty. Maryanne and Kenneth would come back to the family farm south of Sewal from 1946-47 and then move to Urbana, Iowa farming for several years. They would again return to her parent''s farm south of Sewal in 1958 to take over the farming operation. During these times in Urbana and Sewal mom would teach at a country school and substitute at the Sewal School. In 1960 Mom and Dad drove to Panama City, Florida to adopt two children, Patricia and Leslie. Mom''s life was about to change in ways she could not imagine. She would no longer be just a farm wife and a teacher, she would also become a mother and mentor to two kids that needed that guidance and direction. Maryanne was a 4-H leader from 1963-1972 for the Jackson Wild Rose 4-H Club and Assistant Postmaster in Powersville, Mo during the late 60''s and early 70''s. She was a Home Health Aid from 1974 to 2008 with the Wayne County Home Health Aid Agency. The Home Health Aid position brought Mom a lot of joy knowing she was making a difference in a lot of people''s lives. Maryanne was an active member of the Sewal United Methodist Church for many years serving as treasurer for 35+ years, VBS teacher, Sunday School teacher and helping with the yearly bazaars and God''s Portion sales. She attended services in Corydon at the United Methodist Church for the last few years. She was an active member of Eastern Star for several years. Her husband Kenneth preceded her in death in March of 2009, as did her parents Carl and Mary Walker, a brother Gene Walker and sister-in-law Doris Walker. Family that continues to celebrate her life are daughter Patty Berry and husband Paul of Urbandale, son Les Ferguson and wife Kim of Carlisle. Also nine grandchildren including Tina (Ferguson) Marshall and husband Jim of Oskaloosa, Taron Ferguson of Oskaloosa, Jon and Bryce Ferguson both of Grimes, Robby Hatch of West Des Moines, Sarah (Berry) Brunney and husband Robert of Kentucky, Scott Berry of Kansas City and eleven great grandchildren including Lyman, Kendal, Grace and Brie Anne Marshall, Ireland Elizabeth Marie Ferguson, Joslyn, Essence and Malakai Ferguson, Hailey, Samantha, Kyra Kepple and many friends and relatives. A Celebration of Life Service will be held for Maryanne on Sunday, September 9th, 4:00 PM at the Corydon United Methodist Church in Corydon, Iowa. Memorials may be sent to the family and will be forwarded at a later date to the Wayne County Home Health Aid Agency.