Eva Dell Ferguson

Notes:

Eva Dell Lunsford, 79, of Orange, Texas, passed away on December 22, 2022, at her home in Orange, Texas.

Born in "Fergie Hill" outside of Hemphill, Texas, on December 3, 1943, Eva was the daughter of Willie Samuel Ferguson and Nettie Irene Rogers Ferguson. As the second oldest of 9 children, she was like a parent to her youngest siblings. Passionate about education, Eva was single-minded in her pursuit of the highest grades possible and her goal to attend nursing school in Beaumont. Her hard work paid off, and Eva graduated Valedictorian of her high school and her college where she co-edited the yearbook and developed lifelong friendships.

Eva met her first husband, Earl Gordy, in Beaumont while students at Lamar. She followed his dreams to Alaska where she worked as a registered nurse, accumulating many adventurous stories including helping Eskimo women deliver their babies. Although she loved Alaska very much, she deeply missed her east Texas roots. With her growing family, they returned to Texas where her husband found work as a CPA with the Rogers Brothers in Beaumont. After purchasing property in the community of Rosevine, they began their dream of building a log cabin guided by the Foxfire series and inspired by Henry David Thoreau. Eva continued her work as an RN in Nacogdoches while raising her family and living a wonderful life off the land until Earl's early death due to cancer.

Her second husband, Donald, entered her life in a Cessna 182 Skylane and quite literally swept her off her feet. Having known each other's families through the church of Christ, he began picking her up for dates from the Pineland airport and courting her throughout southeast Texas. After a move to Orangefield, a new life of travel and adventures would begin. From flying over the football field during kickoff to flying to vacation destinations, Eva's new life was full of opportunity and promise. She continued her work as an RN and remained deeply involved in church and her children's lives. As a parent ? and especially as a grandparent ? Eva was always the adult who played on the floor with the children, chased them around the house, made big messes in the kitchen, hid in the closet with them, and showered them with love and laughter. For one grandchild in particular, "Gramma Day" was the highlight of the week where he loved to get "lost' in the sheets while "helping" to make the beds.

Eva was cherished by all who knew her for her kindness, her faithfulness, her intelligence, her silliness, and her love of serving others. She leaves behind an adoring husband and a doting family of children, grandchildren, and many nieces & nephews whom she loved like her own. Although Alzheimer's ravaged her bright mind, she still found ways to acknowledge their presence as they whispered words of love, stroked her hair, and held her hand during her final days.

Eva was preceded in death by parents, Willie and Nettie Ferguson; her brothers, Glenn Ferguson and Ronnie Ferguson; her sisters, Lorraine Waetjen and Kathy Chance; and her first husband, Earl H. Gordy.

She is survived by her loving husband, Donald Lunsford; her daughter, Dana Gordy Bundy; her sons, Aaron Gordy and wife Mary Jo Caruthers, and Benjamin Gordy; her grandchildren, Gray Bundy, Dane Bundy, Rene Gordy, Lily Gordy, Abigail Genova, Noah Genova, and Olivia Gordy; her brothers, Gaylon Ferguson, Donald Paul Ferguson,

Johnny Ferguson, and Bertz Ferguson; and numerous other loving friends and family.

Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m., Friday, January 6, 2022, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange, Texas. Officiating will be Evangelist Larry Tomlin of West Orange Church of Christ in Orange, Texas.

Visitation will be from 2:00-3:00 p.m., Friday, January 6, 2022, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Burial will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, January 7, 2022, at Springhill Cemetery in Hemphill, Texas.

Copied from Find A Grave

Also published in The Sabine County Reporter, December 28, 2022, page 4

Notes:

Name Willy Samuel Ferguson
Event Type Death
Event Date 10 Mar 1968
Event Place San Augustine, San Augustine, Texas, United States
Gender Male
Marital Status Married
Birth Date 07 Oct 1911
Birthplace , Texas
Occupation Saw Mill Worker
Father's Name Martin John Ferguson
Mother's Name Annie Mcgraw
Informant Nettie Rogers Ferguson, wife
Certificate Number 22279
GS Film number 2138979
Digital Folder Number 005145083
Image Number 02149



Citing this Record:
"Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K3SC-VT7 : accessed 25 Jun 2014), Willy Samuel Ferguson, 10 Mar 1968; citing certificate number 22279, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2138979.

William married Nettie Irene Rogers on 17 Dec 1934. Nettie (daughter of William Rogers and Alice Lenora Jacks) was born on 7 May 1919 in Bronson, Sabine County, Texas; died on 23 Apr 1988 in Jefferson County, Texas; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name Martin Young Ferguson
Event Type Death
Event Date 23 May 1927
Event Place Hemphill, Sabine, Texas, United States
Gender Male
Marital Status Married
Birth Date 23 May 1870
Birthplace Sabine, Texas
Father's Name William Ferguson
Mother's Name Linda Garlington
Informant A G Pratt
Certificate Number 17755
GS Film number 2114277
Digital Folder Number 005145318
Image Number 02410



Citing this Record:
"Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K376-TJM : accessed 25 Jun 2014), Martin Young Ferguson, 23 May 1927; citing certificate number 17755, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2114277.

Martin married Annie S. McGraw on 1 Sep 1892 in Sabine County, Texas. Annie (daughter of Albert James "Mack" McGraw and Rebecca Smith) was born on 23 Aug 1876 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 27 Jul 1953 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

FindAGrave shows her as the daughter of Albert J. M. and Rebecca (Smith) McGraw.

Name Annie Smith Ferguson
Event Type Death
Event Date 27 Jul 1953
Event Place Hemphill, Sabine, Texas, United States
Gender Female
Marital Status Widowed
Birth Date 23 Aug 1876
Birthplace , Texas
Father's Name Mack Mcgraw
Mother's Name Rebeca Smith
Certificate Number 53098
GS Film number 2113985
Digital Folder Number 005145360
Image Number 00285



Citing this Record:
"Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K371-XKF : accessed 25 Jun 2014), Annie Smith Ferguson, 27 Jul 1953; citing certificate number 53098, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2113985.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1930 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 1
Enumerated April 22, 1930
ED 202-3 SD 19 Sheet 1B
Pineland Springhill Road
8-8
Ferguson, Annie S Head F W 53 Wd 16 Tx Tx NC Farmer
Ferguson, Cary T Son M W 23 S Tx Tx Tx Laborer Farm
Ferguson, Willie S Son m W 18 S Tx Tx Tx Laborer Farm
Ferguson Violet Granddaughter F W 6 S Tx Tx Tx

William married Alice Lenora Jacks. Alice was born on 26 Sep 1876 in Texas; died on 2 Jan 1960 in Newton, Newton County, Texas; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Compiled from 1860 Census Sabine County, Texas with Civil War Records by Mrs. Helen Gomer Schluter, page 55:

William Ferguson, pension application 3543, approved October 12, 1899. Date of pension application July 18, 1899. He is 72 years of age and resided in Oakdale, Texas for 66 years. He is in very bad health and a farmer. He enlisted about June 1, 1863 with Company D, Cooks's Regiment, Heavy Artillery and served until the end of the war. He has two cows valued at $16, one year old yearling value $5, one calf worth $4, one horse worth $20, 10 head of hogs valued at $10. In the past two year he has sold one yearling for $5. V.H. Vickers, County Judge. W.T. Pulliam and J.O. Davidson witnesses. Dr. D.M. Cooper states that the applicant is in poor health with chronic colic and general nervous prostration. William Ferguson served with Milam County Guards, Infantry, 27th Brigade, General E.S.C. Robertson commander; Mount Vernon Grays, active Company, Infantry or Calvary, Titus County, 8th Brigade, TST was 5th Sergt., Company E, Volunteers, 11th Brigade, Captain Nathaniel B. Yelverton, Brigade Colonel L.W. Cooper commanding.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1860 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Sandy Beat No. 7, PO Fairmount
Enumerated 17 July 1860
Page 41
307-307
Durciller Low 56 F Farmer 3000 8532 Ga
Isaac Low 23 M Farmer 1100 810 La
Jackson G Low 20 M 1100 470 Tx
Alma H Low 15 F Miss
308-308
William Furguson 34 M Farmer $000 $640 La
Selendra Furguson 22 F La
William E Furguson 8 M Tx
Oleanner Furguson 6 F Tx
Plasete J Furguson 4 F Tx
Drusiller Furguson 1 F Tx
Benjamin G Furguson 8/12 M Tx

William married Selindra Garlington about 1857 in Sabine County, Texas. Selindra (daughter of Benjamin Garlington and Caroline Cynthia Vick) was born about 1839 in Texas; died about 1905 in Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Pr No 2
Enumerated 4 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 69 Sheet 2B
37-37
McGraw, A Head W m Apr 1833 67 M 34 Miss Miss Miss Farmer
McGraw, Rebecca Wf W F Sept 1836 63 M 34 6/6 SC NC NC

Albert married Rebecca Smith about 1866. Rebecca was born in Sep 1836 in South Carolina; died on 6 Sep 1917 in Texas; was buried in Mount Sinai Cemetery, Fairdale, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In 1910 she was widowed and living with son Thomas H McGraw in Sabine County.