It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Evelyn Viola Ferguson, RN on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009, at the Cove Guest Home.Evelyn’s passing was with grace and dignity, just as she lived her life.
Born in Glace Bay, Oct. 28,1918, the eldest child of Jack and Vivian (Boone) MacKenzie. Evelyn was educated in Glace Bay, attending Glace Bay High and Glace Bay General Hospital School of Nursing class of 1940 (first place). Her next step was a scholarship that she won for the highest RN marks which led her to Montreal to obtain a post graduate degree in obstetrics at the Royal Victoria Hospital, (first place). Her studies included credentials as a midwife that she practised in Montreal. Evelyn’s high academic standing here won here a scholarship to McGill University. After Montreal, Evelyn retired to Nova Scotia where she was a volunteer with the war effort and worked as a staff nurse at Clark Rouse Airforce Base near Dartmouth.
Evelyn married in Halifax, at this time, the ‘love of her life’ and high school sweetheart “Fergie Dear”, Ronald Ferguson, who also worked at the same base as an aviation mechanic. Following the war the happy couple returned to Glace Bay to raise their family. Evelyn loved to socialize and was active in the Glace Bay Baptist Church. Evelyn held various offices in the Ladies Guild, Prayer Group, choir and Missionary Society receiving a 50 year award from the United Baptist Women’s Missionary Society. She was also an active member of the Glace Bay Hospital Nurses Alumnae with her lifelong friends and class mates.
Education was very important to Evelyn and she made sure that all her children were educated and she was always involved in home and school. She loved music and in her earlier years she played the organ and the piano at Warden United Church.
Surviving are her children, daughter and best friend, Norma RN (Tom) Miller, Glace Bay, Barbara (Ryan Jordan), Halifax, David (Pam) Ferguson, Bedford, Donald (Leonella) Ferguson, Glace Bay; grandchildren, Donald Everson, Heather Everson, Susan Miller (Nick Abate), Matthew Miller, Shawn Jordan, Amy Ferguson, Paige Ferguson, Nathan Ferguson, Kaylee Ferguson, Kenzie Ferguson and precious great-granddaughter, Gianna Evelyn Abate, whom she had the opportunity to hold, love and cherish. Alas surviving is Evelyn’s only brother, William ‘Bill’ MacKenzie and his wife Lorraine, Glace Bay; niece, Heather; nephew, Darryl and Ronald’s nieces and nephews.
Evelyn was predeceased by her husband, Ronald Laird Ferguson (1993), grandson, Scott Ferguson (1996), stepbrothers, Archie MacLeod and Angus MacLeod.
Evelyn will always be remembered for ‘lighting up the room’ with her presence, smile, sharp wit and infectious laughter. After 25 years raising her children, Evelyn rewrote her RNs and returned to work until 1980 in the OBS and private duty at the Glace Bay General Hospital.
Visitation for Evelyn Ferguson will take place at Patten Funeral Home, 71 Union St., Glace Bay, Tuesday, Sept. 22 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service will be held at the Glace Bay Baptist Church on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Gary Dillon officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.
Family flowers only. Memorial donations may be made to the Glace Bay Baptist Church Building Fund.
Online condolences may be forwarded to the family at patten@seaside.ns.ca
Congratulations, Evelyn on a job well done. You lead the class again.
“Earth hath no sorrow that heaven cannot heal”

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