Mary Carol Ferguson

Mary Carol Winn Ferguson (Carol to her family) was born February 23, 1949, and her eternal spirit was released from its earthly shackles, March 14, 2019. With a fateful coincidence that she would have appreciated—her physical birth and death both occurred at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Oklahoma City. She was the fifth of eight children and the third daughter born to Mary Montana Denson Winn and Edgar Abner Winn. A precocious child always attempting to follow or exceed her older siblings, Carol spent most of her youth in Sulphur and Ada. She was baptized at the Sulphur Church of Christ in 1959—the same day as her older sister, Janet. Mary Carol was named after her mother: Mary Montana, and those who knew them best observed several common personality characteristics; a strong will that was difficult to dissuade and intense parenting and grandparenting instincts. Like her mother, Carol’s thoughts were dominated byher daughters and grandchildren. In 1966, Carol married her high school sweetheart, Barry Ferguson, and into their union were born three daughters—Laura, Kathy, and Rachel. Soon after their marriage, Carol and Barry moved to California, where Barry was first stationed with the U.S. Army. When her husband was deployed to Viet Nam, Carol moved back to Ada with daughter, Laura and completed high school graduating from Byng High School in 1968. After Barry returned from the war, the family moved to Stratford where Barry worked for Carol’s father, and Carol lovingly tended her girls and helped her mother with her younger brothers. Carol and family also lived several years near Talhequah and Lake Tenkiller where both Barry and Carol attended Northeastern State University. Years later, after the girls were grown, Carol demonstrated some of that strong will she had inherited by returning to school and earning a bachelor of science degree in history and political science from East Central University in 2001. In recent years Carol lived in Oklahoma City where she made several new friends at Emerald Square retirement village. Poor health had limited her activity, but she enjoyed old movies and television programming, home shopping for her family, and invoking vigorous political discussion with her visitors. Among the symbolic possessions she cherished most were, of course, pictures and other memorabilia from her daughters’ childhood days, a Bible with a note of presentation from her mother and father, and a certificate documenting her founding membership on Rosa Parks’ Wall of Tolerance. Carol’s family members remember and describe her as “beautiful, kind, sassy, acrobatic, intelligent, curious and loving.” Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Montie and Abner Winn, husband Barry Ferguson, and a daughter Laura Ferguson Baker. She was also preceded in death by her sister, Louise Johnson, and her brother, Keith Winn. She is survived by daughters Kathy Ferguson of Blanchard and Rachel Gutzmer of Lindsay, granddaughter Madalyne Gutzmer, and grandson Logan Gutzmer. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law Janet and Wesley Arter of Lindsay, along with four brothers and sisters-in-law, Ed and Nancy Winn of Oklahoma City, Tom and Melody Winn of Shawnee, Larry and Barbara Winn of Lindsay, and Terry and Tina Winn of Edmond. Also, among those cherishing her memory are dozens of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. A graveside memorial service will be conducted at 10:30 A.M., Monday, March 18, 2019, at the Purdy Cemetery, Purdy, Oklahoma, south of Lindsay. Services are under the direction of Scott and Angel Wilbourn of Boydston-Wilbourn Funeral Home in Lindsay, Oklahoma. Condolences may be made to the family online at www.boydstonfuneralhome.com. To send a flower arrangement to the family of Mary Carol Ferguson, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.

Mary Carol Ferguson

February 23, 1949 - March 14, 2019

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