Lee Ferguson

Lee Ferguson FORT MYERS, Fla. - Clara Lee Scherff Smith Ferguson, resident of Shell Point Village, Fort Myers, Fla., and former resident of Virginia Beach, passed away Thursday, Aug. 6, at the Shell Point Pavilion. Born July 13, 1926, Lee was the daughter of John Lee Scherff and Clara Matilda Keidel. She grew up in Louisville, Ky., and attended the University of Louisville, where she studied chemistry. She was married to retired U.S. Navy Captain Edwin Paul Smith Jr. for 28 years and later to retired U.S. Navy Capt. James Dugué Ferguson III for 17 years. Both are deceased. As a Navy wife, Lee set up housekeeping in Argentina, Belgium, California, Florida, Maryland, Rhode Island and Virginia. She was a member and former vestry leader of St. Michael and All Angels parish in Sanibel, Fla., Sigma Kappa Sorority, the Red Hat Ladies, and the Ladies of the Round Table at King's Crown, Shell Point Village. Epitomizing a selfless spirit of giving, she contributed generously of her time, talents, and treasure to a variety of worthy causes throughout her life. She is survived by her five daughters, Cindy Matheny (Mike) of Nashville, Tenn., Carol Peck (Gaillard) of Las Vegas, Nev., Cathy Heffernan (Pat) of Manchester, N.H., Charlotte Kafka (Dave) of Lake Ridge, Va., and Christine Eure (Brad) of Charlottesville, Va.; four stepchildren, Frances Rowan (Larry) of Reston, Va., Jane (Bebe) Junghans (Pete) of Alexandria, Va., Susan Pelosi (Ron) of San Francisco, and James Dugué Ferguson IV of Virginia Beach; 14 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held at 10:15 a.m. on Aug. 10 at the Village Church at Shell Point Village, officiated by Father John Corbiere, interim priest at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. A second service of internment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on a date to be decided. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hope Hospice at Shell Point Village, 9470 HealthPark Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33908 www.hopehospice.org/donate; or to St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 2304 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957-3209 www.saintmichaels-sanibel.org.