Dorothy Ferguson

DOROTHY FERGUSON

Mechanicsville

Dorothy Ferguson, 94, of Mechanicsville, Iowa, passed away peacefully on March 14, 2022, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 18, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon, Iowa. Funeral services: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 19, at the funeral home. Private family burial to follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Mechanicsville. The family requests everyone where a mask at the visitation and service to protect David's health.

Friends and family unable to attend are invited to watch the service via livestream. Please find the livestream link on Dorothy's Tribute Wall and share your support and memories with her family at www.stewartbaxter.com under obituaries.

Dorothy was born on Sept. 17, 1927, to James and Marguerite (Brasseur) Bradley in Lang, Saskatchewan, Canada. As a child, her family moved to the United States and settled in Cedar Rapids. In 1945 Dorothy graduated from Franklin High School, and then went on to Mount Mercy College where she earned her teaching degree in 1947. She accepted a teaching position with the Mechanicsville School and in the fall of 1947, she packed her suitcase, got on a bus, and traveled to her new town and job.

Dorothy continued to teach in Mechanicsville, later Lincoln School system for 40 years before retiring. She immediately signed up to substitute and continued to "go to school" almost daily for another 17 years. In 2002 she was honored with a Friend of Literacy award from the Cedar Rapids Area Reading Council.

Soon after arriving in Mechanicsville, she met a young farmer recently home from the U.S. Navy – Dave Ferguson. They were married in 1950, and within a few years had purchased a farm, had two children and began a 55-year life in the country. In 2008 they bought a house in Mechanicsville and remained there for 10 years until health issues had them moving to the Rehabilitation Center of Lisbon.

Besides teaching, Dorothy was active with many organizations in the community: Legion Auxiliary, Eastern Star, Presbyterian Women, Garden Club, Beta Nu Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority and several years on the board of the Cedar County Work Activities Center in Tipton.

Dorothy is survived by her husband, Dave; daughter, Cindy (Ed) Musselman; granddaughter, Carrie Musselman (Jeff Melcher); grandson, Seth (Cheryl) Ferguson; great-grandchildren, Kinzey, Kolton and Kira Ferguson, and Lexi Furry; and nieces, Terri Mengler and Julie Fitch.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Brad; sister, Elizabeth (Evan) Mengler; and in-laws, Barbara (Orin) Wallick, Richard Ferguson, and Walt and Loretta Ferguson.

The family extends a thank you to the Rehabilitation Center of Lisbon and nurses on the 4th floor of St. Luke's for their wonderful and compassionate care during Dorothy's stay.

Memorials are suggested to Camp Courageous, the Mechanicsville Library or charity of the donor's choice.