Rita Ferguson

Rita Ferguson, 67, of Alamogordo, New Mexico, passed away on Thursday, September 13, 2007, at Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Rita was born March 5, 1940 in Topeka, Kansas to Victor and Luz (Olmos) Hernandez. She graduated from Hayden High School in Topeka in 1958, and received an associate degree from New Mexico State University-Alamogordo in 1995. She retired from the Alamogordo Public Schools in 2001, having worked in the libraries at Holloman Elementary School, Alamogordo High School and Buena Vista Elementary School. An active member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Rita was a Eucharistic Minister and, with her husband, the marriage team coordinator. She also assisted her husband with the AARP Drivers Safety Program at the Alamogordo Senior Center. Survivors include her husband of 46 years Alvin Ferguson of the family home; three sons, MSgt. Kenneth Ferguson, U.S.A.F, and his wife Elva of Okinawa, Japan, Jeffrey Ferguson, a detective with the Las Cruces Police Department, and Maj. Andrew Ferguson, with the U.S. Army in Bagdad, and his wife Glenise of Ft. Hood, Texas; two grandchildren, Jayden and Abigail Ferguson of Ft. Hood; two sisters, Vita Chavez and Mary Chavez and her husband Chav, all of Oklahoma City; a brother Paul Hernandez of Topeka, Kansas; and numerous nieces and nephews. Rita was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Joe and Larry Hernandez; and a sister Pauline Gutierrez. A vigil service will be Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Alamogordo with the Rosary to be recited by Vanita Chelgren. Mass of the Resurrection will follow in the church at 10:00 a.m. with Father Bryant Hausfeld, O.F.M. as celebrant. Interment will follow in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery in Alamogordo. Services are under the direction of Hamilton-O'Dell Funeral Home in Alamogordo. To sign the online guest book, please visit www.hamiltonodell.com. Rita Ferguson