Obituary of Rilla Vae Ferguson

Rilla Vae Ferguson Newton A Mass of Christian Burial for Rilla Vae Ferguson of Newton, will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 23, 2009 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton. Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home in Newton has been entrusted with the arrangements. A visitation with the family will be held from 5 p.m. until 7:00 Thursday, Jan. 22, at the church. A Wake and Prayer Service will be at 7:00 p.m., Thursday at the church. Rilla Vae Ferguson, 75, the daughter of Delbert Merle and Esther (Dodd) Shively, was born January 19, 1934 in Toledo, Iowa. A resident of the Toledo area until 1939, Rilla's family moved to Marshalltown, when she was 14. They then moved to Keokuk, where Rilla graduated from the Keokuk Senior High School, Class of 1952. In 1960, Rilla moved to the Newton, Iowa area. She had devoted her life to her family and friends, and was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, since 1989. She was the activity director for Nelson Manor and for ten years for Mary Ann Shaw at Careage of Newton. She was active in her church, enjoyed playing the piano, baking cookies, cooking for her family and volunteering at Careage. Rilla died on Monday evening, Jan. 19, 2009 at Heritage Manor of Newton. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister Betty Fortier; and a niece and nephew. Those left to honor Rilla's memory include her daughter Kim (Kevin) Browning of Newton; her sons: Mitch (Peggy) Ferguson of Stuart, Iowa and John (Stacy) Ferguson of West Des Moines, Iowa; five grandchildren: John, Jacob, Jessica, Mike and Mark; six great-grandchildren; her sister Mardis Murphy of California; her nieces: Chris (Dr. Ron) Terrill, Mardy Lynn (Dave) Cogwin and Jackie (Ed) Gammill; her many other nieces and nephews; and her many great friends. Memorials in Rilla's name are being designated; to Hospice of Jasper County or American Cancer Society. t