Shirley Janet Ferguson, 85, Jefferson City passed away Friday, June 28, 2024.
She was born April 9, 1939, to the late Chesley and Olive “Mildred” (Leimkiller) Nichols near the village of Freedom.
She attended a one-room country school, Liberty, near the Mint Hill area. The family attended Mint Hill Baptist Church where Shirley was baptized in 1952. After the family moved to Chamois in 1951 she attended Chamois public school and graduated in May 1957.
Shirley was united in marriage to Homer Ferguson Dec. 28, 1957.
She was proud of the fact that after graduating on a Thursday, she came to Jefferson City where she got a job, an apartment, and started work on the following Monday. After a week of waitressing, she went to work in an Insurance Agency and remained there seven and a half years. Then worked for an office supply company for two and half years. After being a stay-at-home mom, Shirley went to work in the management office of Capital Mall and worked there 17 years before she retired in 1997.
She enjoyed refinishing and repurposing furniture, painting and papering, and gardening. Shirley was a den mother, room mother, and enjoyed baking cookies for their events.
She was a member of Westview Baptist Church but because of the distance she had been attending Immanuel Baptist Church for the past years.
Shirley was preceded in death by husband of 56 years, Homer; parents, Chesley and Olive; daughter, Kristi Schwartz; sister, Sharon Helming-Brown; nephew, Shannon Helming; niece, Sheila Helming; and brother-in-laws, Larry and Raymond Helming.
She is survived by son, Craig and wife Dana; granddaughter, Sierra; sister, Edith Helming; brother-in-law, Mike Brown; and a niece and nephews.
Memorial contributions suggested to the organization of donor’s choice.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Monday, July 8, followed by the funeral service at Houser-Millard Funeral Home in Jefferson City. Interment will be at Riverview Cemetery.
Arrangements entrusted to Houser-Millard Funeral Directors in Jefferson City.
