Iralee Calhoun Ferguson

FLORENCE - Iralee Calhoun Ferguson, 85, died Tuesday, September 21, 2008, in Atlanta after an extended illness. A graveside memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, September 28, 2008, at Mount Hope Cemetery in Florence, SC, directed by Waters-Powell Funeral Home, followed by a reception at Mrs. Ferguson’s home.

Mrs. Ferguson was born June 21, 1923, in Kingstree, SC, the daughter of Ira Angus Calhoun and Ida Elizabeth Calhoun. On December 17, 1944, she married Robert Earl Ferguson of Marion, OH, who died in February 2003.

She graduated from Columbia High School in 1941 and attended the University of South Carolina for one year to study secretarial work. Upon completing the course of study, she worked as a secretary at Fort Jackson in Columbia. Mrs. Ferguson lived most of her life in Ohio before returning to South Carolina in 2003. During most of that time she was a homemaker. She also worked as a secretary later in her married life.

Mrs. Ferguson was preceded in death by a sister, Frances Smith of Florence. She is survived by another sister, Mary Virginia Johnson, also of Florence. Other survivors include two sons, Robert Calhoun Ferguson of Lima, OH, and David Alan (Cathy) Ferguson of Alpharetta, GA; two daughters, Joyce Ellen Keller of Cincinnati, OH, and Ann Elizabeth (Frank) Shepherd of Atlanta, GA; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Mrs. Ferguson was an intelligent, active, and painstaking lady who excelled at everything she undertook. She was also a vivacious, gregarious and outspoken person who passionately loved her children and grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by all who were privileged to have known her.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society.