Dorothy Ferguson

Funeral service for Dorothy will be Thursday, October 19, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Hardtner, Kansas. Burial will follow at Hardtner-Elwood Cemetery. Viewing will be Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. with the family present from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Memorials may be given to Barber County 4-H Foundation or Hardtner United Methodist Church through the funeral home.

Born on May 31, 1924 on the family farm, Dorothy Ellen Ferguson was the oldest of five children for Walter and Edna Irwin Ferguson of rural Waynoka. She passed from this life on October 11, 2017 in Perry, Oklahoma at the age of 93 years, 4 months and and 11 days.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Preston Lewis McNally; one son, Michael Lynn McNally and two sisters, Doris Henson and Lois Finch Jantzen.

She is survived by her brother, Garold Ferguson (Becky) of Chickasaw, Oklahoma; her sister, Carol Jean Cooper (Bill) of Stillwater, Oklahoma; daughter, Pat McNally (Jim Rutledge) of Stillwater, Oklahoma; son, Les McNally (Lynette) of Hugoton, Kansas; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Dorothy attended Pleasant Hill rural grade school, achieving the highest math score of all 8th graders in Woods County. During her youth, she was an active 4-H member. Dorothy and two sisters lived with their Grandmother Irwin in Waynoka so as to attend high school, graduating in 1943. Dorothy was united in marriage to Preston McNally of Waynoka on January 6, 1944. While he served 42 months of active service in the US Army Air Corp, Dorothy worked at Boeing, attended the Wichita Business College and worked for the Santa Fe Railroad Trainmaster in Waynoka. To this union were born three children: Patricia Ann, Michael Lynn and Leslie Gene.

In 1950, Preston and Dorothy moved from Waynoka to the Union Chapel community northwest of Hardtner to engage in farming and ranching. Dorothy was involved in the Union Chapel Ladies Aid, Bible School, Flying Eagle Home Demonstration Unit and served as the Community Club Leader for the Lone Eagle 4-H Club.

In 1965, the family moved to Hardtner. In 1967, Dorothy began work at the Farmers State Bank, putting those 8th grade math skills to good use. She raised large gardens, canned hundreds of jars of green beans and tomatoes, supported Mike and Les in their school activities, active in the Stateline American Legion Auxiliary and served as the Stateline 4-H Club Community Leader and the Methodist Church Secretary. She was instrumental in co-coordinating the annual July 4th Veterans Program, starting in 1993.

Dorothy excelled at patching blue jeans, raising flocks of chickens, ducks, guineas and geese and clipping news articles for dozens of scrapbooks. She served as a caregiver for numerous others in their final days. One of her passions was caring for newborn bottle lambs, at one time having thirteen lambs in the house getting round-the-clock feedings. Her homemade pies raised hundreds of dollars over the years at the July 4th Auction, Methodist Church Sausage and Pancake Supper Auction plus the County Fair Kitchen. The grandkids learned that Granny always had a “Project List” filled with a variety of things that needed to be done. Thus, Dorothy instilled a solid work ethic in their formative years.

In 2011, Dorothy moved to Stillwater to live with her daughter and then at Golden Oaks Assisted Living in Stillwater and Green Valley Nursing Home in Perry until her death. Known for her quick wit, pleasant personality, her graciousness and gratitude, Dorothy was truly loved by her many health care providers, family, friends and neighbors.