Phyllis Ferguson

Phyllis Ferguson, 99 of New Sharon went to be with her Lord and Savior Thursday morning, October 16, 2025 at the Mahaska Health Partnership Hospice Serenity in Oskaloosa. Funeral services will begin at 10:00 am Monday, October 20, 2025 at Lacey Methodist Church. Burial will be held in the Union Mills Cemetery at Union Mills. Visitation will be held Sunday, October 19, 2025 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in New Sharon. Memorials may be made to the Lacey Methodist Church or Mahaska Serenity House. Holland-Coble Funeral Home of New Sharon is in charge of arrangements.

Phyllis Colleen Ferguson, was born August 24, 1926 in Oskaloosa, Iowa to Fred and Emma (Hawk) Darland. She attended Mauch Chunk, one-room school house near Spring Valley. After graduation from Cedar High School, in 1944, where she was a cheerleader for the boys' and girls' basketball teams, she worked at Mahaska Hospital in the Birthing Unit. On January 1, 1945 Phyllis was united in marriage to Gerald Ferguson in Oskaloosa, Iowa. They made their home on a farm near Lacey where they raised Angus cattle. She helped Gerald with farm chores, drove tractors and picked corn. She was an excellent homemaker with a gift for hospitality, all while keeping up with four very active children. Her grandchildren enjoyed special times with her in the kitchen and in the garden. Phyllis and Gerald farmed together from 1945 until 2002 when they moved to town. In 2014, she and Gerald moved to Northern Mahaska Specialty Care in Oskaloosa. While there they celebrated their 70th anniversary. After Gerald's death, she moved to Homestead Assisted Living in Oskaloosa. Phyllis loved to be around people and attend her grandchildren's sporting events and livestock shows. She also enjoyed the Fairview Neighborhood Club, local card club, the PELMELs and Ladies Bible study group. She was active in the American Angus Association Auxiliary and was a longtime co-leader of the Adams Champs 4-H club. Phyllis was a faithful follower of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and a long-time member of the Lacey Methodist Church. She served as a Sunday School teacher, secretary of the Ladies Circle and helped with numerous church suppers and ice cream socials. She enjoyed doing whatever needed to be done! She truly lived a life of service!

Phyllis is survived by her four children, Connie (Ed) Hanssen of Davenport, Tom (Marilyn) Ferguson of New Sharon, Steve Ferguson (TBD) of Ankeny and Randy Joe (Kris) Ferguson of New Sharon; 7 grandchildren, Julie (Salvatore) Brucculeri, Brian (Katie) Hanssen, Tonya (Shawn) DeJong, Tami (Jon) Goemaat, Jeana (Jason) Fisk, Jake (Gwyn) Ferguson and Sally (Mike) Murch and 19 great grandchildren, one special niece; Deb Gray of Cedar Falls, brothers-in-law; John and Bill Ferguson, sisters-in-law, Sharon and Nancy Ferguson all of New Sharon, as well as a multitude of wonderful friends.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald, parents, Fred and Emma (Hawk) Darland, father and mother- in-law, Cope and Gladys (Shoemake) Ferguson, her sister and brother-in-law, Jean and Burl Grubb, her nephew, Kim Grubb, and her great-grandson, T.J. Goemaat; also, brothers-in-law: Earl, Bob, and Jim Ferguson and sisters-in-law: Shirley, Colleen, Fran and Audrey Ferguson.