Joyce Ferguson

JOYCE ANN FERGUSON

Marion

Joyce Ann Ferguson, 78, of Marion, died Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer's disease, at Bickford Cottage in Marion. A memorial service will be 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories, Cedar Rapids.

Joyce was born Oct. 12, 1937, the daughter of Richard and Mary (Patterson) Monroe in Cedar Rapids. She married John Ferguson on Aug. 30, 1959, in Cedar Rapids. She graduated from Franklin High School in Cedar Rapids and pursued a business/education degree from Mount Mercy College.

Joyce enjoyed inspiring young lives as a substitute teacher in the Cedar Rapids area schools for 30 years.

Joyce's ability to bring people together and her tenacity to fight through any obstacle that life brought her way was inspiring and admirable. Joyce's quick wit, sense of humor and practical jokes will truly be missed by those who knew and loved her. It was once said that Joyce was always surrounded by kids and she could get a mouse to talk.

Survivors include her two children, Carrie Kennedy of Cedar Rapids and Kent Ferguson of Seattle, Wash.; and two grandchildren, Baron Kennedy and Ross Kennedy.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Ross Ferguson; her parents; and a sister, Nancy Monroe-Heuring.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Cedar Rapids Alzheimer's Association, 317 Seventh Ave. SE, Suite 402, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401; or at www.alz. org/ECI in memory of Joyce.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.