Wilma Jane Ferguson

Wilma Jane (Dennison) Ferguson, 89, formerly of Shawnee, passed away on Thursday, February 9, 2017, at Leisure Village Nursing Home in Tulsa. Wilma was born on November 27, 1927, in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, to Thomas Edison Dennison and Willie Myrtle (Powell) Dennison. She was the second youngest of five girls. After her father died when she was just four years old, the family moved around quite a bit. To help raise Wilma and her sisters, their Aunt Annie arrived. More than anyone else, Annie influenced Wilma's strong sense of self and love of family. While attending high school in Chandler, Wilma met and fell in love with Troy Leon Ferguson. They were married a few years later on Jan. 4, 1946, in El Reno. Together, Wilma and Troy had four children - two boys and two girls. The family moved often throughout central and western Oklahoma, Kansas, and the Texas Panhandle following the boom and bust of the oil fields. Wilma was a devoted mother, sister, aunt, and grandmother. "Ninny," as she was known to everyone, always adored being surrounded by family and friends, usually around the dinner table. She loved cooking and guarded her recipes, even from her daughters and granddaughters. She was fiercely loyal to her loved ones with a temper to match if you got on the wrong side of her or her family. She is survived by son Tom and daughter-in-law Sharon Ferguson of Shreveport, La., daughter Linda Ferguson-Treat of Shawnee, daughter Shirley Branson of Tulsa; grandchildren - Lesley Harville of Shreveport, Nikki Willis of McLoud, Troy Ferguson of Ashland, Or., Stacey Schaffer of San Diego, Ca., Kari Purdie of Tulsa, Tamie Humphreys of San Diego, Ca., and Ami Whitlow-Brown and Zackri Whitlow both of Tulsa; eighteen great grandchildren and three great- great grandchildren. She is also survived by her beloved sister Ethelyene Wilbanks of Tulsa. She was preceded in death by her husband Troy, son Michael Ray Ferguson, and sisters Colleetia Wall, Lorettia Decker, and Christine Lofties. Visitation will be held 5:00 - 7:00 pm on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017, at Walker Funeral Chapel in Shawnee. A celebration of her life will be held at 10:30 am, Wednesday, Feb. 15, also at Walker Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow at Little Cemetery. Memorial donations can be made to the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, and the Alzheimer's Association.