Phyllis Jean Ferguson

Phyllis Jean Ferguson, 91 years young, who lived and loved all the days of her life, passed away April 25, 2023 in Dacula, Georgia.  She was preceded in death by Bernard Ferguson, her husband of 72 years, five months earlier.  She was the heart, soul, and strength of her large family.

Phyllis was born October 18, 1931 in Erie, Pennsylvania and was the oldest of three children of Hants and Helen Rushton. She met Bernie at a dance in 1946, married in 1950, and had five children. She was a homemaker, active in church and community, and cared for numerous foster children, with her specialty being newborn babies. She said this was her way of giving back as she raised her five children. The family moved 25 times over the years and Phyllis quickly made roots for herself and family each time with a spirit of adventure and positive determination, and a sense that “life is what you make it.”  

Phyllis always had a passion for theater, books, dancing, and church, and maintained a core of friendships over her lifetime, with certain friends that she treasured for over 80 years. Over her life, she had many talents, such as her beautiful voice noted when she sang in the Stardusters, a group of 6 girlfriends who sang for local events and on a weekly radio show.  Early on, she worked for an office company as a secretary coordinating daily schedules and doing bookkeeping. She was creative and innovative with her poetry, writing, gardening, sewing, knitting, crocheting, painting, and making numerous ceramic pieces cherished by family. She was a lifelong learner with an avid curiosity for autobiographies, religion, science, and had many progressive ideas and inventions she shared with family over the years.  She had a love of travel and she and Bernie traveled the world by car, camper, train, boat, and plane at her initiative, with her map and National Geographic in hand.  

She always brought family together with her traditions and countless delicious meals. Family members from youngest to oldest sought her out for her wisdom, humor, hugs, and her loving ways, and appreciated her non-judgmental, ever-loving, and always knowing spirit and smile. Her parenting mantra lives on in the next generations of her grandchildren, to love hardest when it is hardest to love. She had an honest wit, a zest for living, and was a master communicator by letters, phone, text, email, Facebook, and being in the right place at the right time, ready to talk and listen over a cup of coffee.  She showed all how to live with quiet strength, grace, and selflessness and how to make a difference in the world every day with kindness and love. She was a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose love was universally applied to each family member equally. Her spirit and love of family and life will live on in all who had the gift to know and be loved and nurtured by her. 

Phyllis is survived by her children, Daniel Ferguson, Richard Ferguson, Kristine Fontanarosa, Lynda Randall, and Michael Ferguson; her brother, William Rushton; and her large family. The family “scorecard” kept by Phyllis and Bernie includes 4 daughters-in-law/sons-in-law, 24 grandchildren, and 19 great grandchildren (more than 50 people in her family circle of love).

In lieu of visitation, a ‘celebration of her life’ will be held at a later date.

Memorial Park South Funeral Home, 4121 Falcon Parkway, Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542 is in charge of arrangements.  Send on-line condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.