Frances "Lorene" Coone Ferguson

Frances "Lorene" Coone Ferguson passed away Wednesday, January 7, 2015, at Morehead Memorial Hospital.

A funeral service will be held at 2 PM on Sunday, January 11, at First Wesleyan Church in Eden.

Lorene was born in Leaksville to the late Reverend Willie Stafford Coone and Ada Florence Oldham Coone. She was the widow of the love of her life, Walter Ray Ferguson, who died February 20, 1997. They were married during World War II while Ray was serving in the army. She enjoyed living with Ray in Arkansas and Oklahoma until he was sent to fight in Europe.

A member of First Wesleyan Church since she was 14 years old, her life was enriched by many friends there all down through the years, especially the children. Some of these children are parents and grandparents now. She taught children?��Ǩ�Ѣs Sunday School classes, Vacation Bible School and Children?��Ǩ�Ѣs Church for many years. Later in life she became the director of the Church?��Ǩ�Ѣs Prayer Chain and felt that God had given her the ministry of sending greeting cards to the sick and troubled. In earlier years she was active in the Church?��Ǩ�Ѣs Missionary Society and other church activities. Lorene retired from Eden City Schools after 24 years of service in the School Food Service Department as cafeteria manager. She enjoyed the children at Central Elementary, Burton Grove Elementary and the old Intermediate School. She was secretary for many years for the Rockingham County School Food Service Association. In 1977, she and the cafeteria staff of Intermediate School were awarded the Golden Pippan Award for extra interest and involvement in the lunch program by the North Carolina State School Food Service Association.

Lorene?��Ǩ�Ѣs treasure in life was her family and she loved each one dearly. When health permitted it was her great joy to cook big meals and have them all gather in.

In addition to her parents, her husband, and her youngest son, Walter Kim Ferguson, she was preceded in death by her grandparents Henry Richard and Edna Bondurant Coone, her in-laws that she dearly loved; Coy, Dewey, Eddie, and Russell Ferguson and Harold, Sr. and Ruby Matthews and several nieces and nephews.

She is survived by her brother Douglas Coone and wife Sallie, her sons Dana Ferguson and wife Mary, and Jan Ferguson and wife Kathy and ?��Ǩ?�Special daughter?��Ǩ�� Sharon Frith. She is also survived by three grandchildren: LeighAnna Smithey and husband Will, Ben Ferguson and wife Hava, and Joel Ferguson and six great-grandchildren: April Pulliam, Josh Pulliam, Blake Ferguson, Cody Ferguson, Savannah Ferguson, and Ashleigh Smithey and special nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends Saturday evening, 6 - 8 PM, at Fair Funeral Home and other times at 609 Franklin Drive in Eden.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.fairfuneralhome.com