Miriam Louise [Harrison] Ferguson

Click on any thumbnail below to go to the page with that photograph.

Family Pedigree

Joseph Moyers, Before 1775 - (?)
(?), (?) - (?)

Jacob Moyers, 03/27/1797 - 06/13/1863
Sarah Rogers, 03/16/1802 - 09/16/1867

Samuel Nelson Moyers, 01/31/1827 - 01/13/1920
Lucinda Hopkins Deen, 06/15/1823 - 11/09/1909

George Washington Earl Moyers, 04/12/1849 - 03/28/1926
Rebecca Ellen Pence, 04/10/1847 - 03/30/1919

Pearl Alfred Moyers, 12/12/1875 - 06/04/1964
Jessie Mae Swan, 11/20/1882 - 1/17/1958

Frances Willard Moyers, 10/07/1907 - 07/13/1948
Earl Joseph Harrison, January 12, 1900 - August 29, 1965

Miriam Louise Harrison

Miriam Louise [Harrison] Ferguson - Short Bio

Miriam Ferguson was born the second, and middle, child of Earl Joseph Harrison and Francis Willard Moyers. Miriam was married to Don Ferguson, and later divorced. They had nine children: Sheila Frances Gorsuch, Hope Darlene Jennett, Eileen Faith Roberts, Joy Lynn Conwell, Paulette Elaine Ferguson, Joseph E Ferguson, Karen Sue Ferguson, Ann Louise Ferguson, and Wayde Eugene Ferguson. Miriam presently lives in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.

The following biography of Miriam was written in spring, 2002 by Miriam's daughter, Joy Conwell. Originally printed in the Mount Pleasant News and is published here with Joy's permission:

Born on September 5, 1928, Miriam Louise Harrison was the second daughter of Earl Joseph and Frances Willard (Moyers) Harrison of rural Louisa County, Iowa. Her early years were spent in around Morning Sun and Cairo, Iowa. A middle child, Miriam has an older sister, Wanda and a younger brother, Floyd (Bud). Miriam attended several one room school houses in Lousia County before the family moved to Burlington, where Miriam graduated from high school in 1946. Among her favorite childhood memories are her pet chicken, her terrier, and the time spent mowing lawn with her family at the Cairo cemetery.

In 1948, Miriam married Don LeRoy Ferguson of Fairfield. And to this union, 9 children were born. Still living are Sheila Gorsuch of Benson, Arizona; Hope Jennett of Morning Sun, Iowa; Eileen Doneson of Phoenix, Arizona, Joy Lynn Conwell of Salem, Iowa; and Wayde Ferguson of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Miriam has 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Divorced in 1963, Miriam returned to college obtaining her nursing degree in 1970. Specializing in neo-natal care, Miriam worked the next 20 years at the Burlington Medical Center and the University of Arizona Medical Center caring specifically for children born with cleft palates.

While raising her own children and going to college, Miriam served as a foster mother for 8 years to over 25 special needs children. "The house was never empty," remembers Joy. "Mom always had room in her heart for all HER kids."

Miriam has always reflected an independent spirit. Her love of gardening, canning, and sewing kept her life busy. She loves animals, especially cats and has taken care of as many abandoned cats as she took care of foster children. A good softball player in her younger days, she avidly played such sports as kick ball, croquet and loved teaching people how to play "Ante, Ante, Over." Quick to smile, Miriam enjoys life, people, and her friends at Pleasant Manor Care Center.

Related Information:

Navigation

E-mail