Elizabeth “Joan” Ferguson, 83, a life-long Frankfort resident, passed away on Friday, November 9, 2018, at St. Vincent Hospice in Indianapolis, surrounded by her family. She was born April 9, 1935, in Frankfort, to Kenneth S. and Virginia (Christy) Power. On July 18, 1954, Joan married Phil Ferguson; he passed away on June 8, 2015.
Joan graduated from Frankfort High School in 1953 and continued her education at Purdue and Ivy Tech. By taking classes that suited her interests, she earned her associate’s degree. After purchasing Ferguson and Son Heating and Cooling, Joan worked side by side with her husband and family until their retirement in 1996. Joan and Phil enjoyed camping with the family from the time the children were babies through the early 2000’s. They had traveled from Alaska to Mexico and from the East Coast to the West Coast. On their travels, they did volunteer work at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Joan was a member of St. Matthew United Methodist Church where she had taught Sunday school for several decades, member of Kappa Kappa Kappa, active member of Friends of the Frankfort Library, and past den mother to Boy Scout Troop 338. She was an avid reader and enjoyed her genealogy research.
Surviving Joan are her children, Gene Ferguson and Jeff Ferguson, both of Frankfort, and Jill Berry, of Indianapolis; sister, Jacke Rose, of New York; grandchildren, Kellie Fischer and William Fischer; and several nieces and nephews including devoted nephew, Harley Dupler III. In addition to her parents and husband, Joan is preceded in death by her sister, Janet Dupler.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 15, at St. Matthew United Methodist Church in Frankfort from 10:00 a.m. to the start of the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Phil Lake will officiate. A private inurnment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please honor Joan’s love of nature with memorials made to the Phil and Joan Ferguson Nature Preserve c/o Niches Land Trust, 1782 N – 400 E, Lafayette, IN 47905 or nicheslandtrust.org/index.php/donate/ . Arrangements are entrusted to Genda Funeral Home in Frankfort, with online condolences directed to www.gendafuneralhome.com.