Lois Elizabeth McLaughlin Ferguson, 94, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 29, 2021 in Greenville, Texas. Services will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, Aug 2, 2021 at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home, with Rev. Dr. Matthew Thomas, and Rev. Dr. Matthew Beasley, officiating. A graveside service will follow at 11:45 AM at Sulphur Springs City Cemetery in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home.

Lois was born at home on the family farm outside Channing, Texas on May 5, 1927 to Ernest Van McLaughlin and Mildred Buffington McLaughlin. The family later moved to a ranch in Raton, New Mexico, where Lois spent her school years before the family returned to Texas. She married the love of her life, Boyd Ralph Ferguson, in Sulphur Springs, Texas on August 18, 1948.

Lois graduated from Raton High School in 1944 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from East Texas State Teachers College in 1948, majoring in history with minors in physical education and English, along with her Elementary Education Certification, and a Master of Education degree from East Texas State University in 1969. She was member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Greenville. Lois also was a member of Alpha Chi National College Honor Society and an Honorary Life Member of the Texas PTA. In 1974, she was selected as an Outstanding Elementary Teacher of America. She was also a member of the Captain David Philips Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution.

Lois taught high school history in the towns of Cayuga and Carthage, Texas before moving to Sulphur Springs, Texas, where she was a teacher at Lamar Elementary School for many years. Teaching was her calling; she delighted in helping her students achieve their full potential, and took great pride in mentoring college students studying to enter the field of education. After retiring from teaching, Lois and Boyd moved to Greenville, where she enjoyed working alongside her daughter, Jan, at Jan’s Hallmark Shop, and spending as much time as possible with her family.

She loved the Lord, and through the decades enjoyed preparing and teaching Sunday School lessons and Bible studies to a variety of groups, ranging in age from 3 to 100, at Baptist churches in Greenville and Sulphur Springs, and Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Greenville.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents; one daughter, Marcia Dawn Ferguson; four sisters – Margaret Driggers, Dorothy Weaver, Helen Ferguson, and Lucy Lee McLaughlin; and four brothers-in-law – Bill Driggers, Col. Gene Weaver, Fred Bayless, and Glenn Ferguson.

Lois is survived by her loving husband of 73 years, Boyd, and four daughters – Beth Clifton, and husband Jim, of Whitehouse, Texas; Paula Brinkley, and husband Lannis, of Ardmore, Oklahoma; Dianna Mitchell, and husband Larry, of Quitman, Texas; and Jan Weddle, and husband Robert, of Greenville, Texas.

She also is survived by ten grandchildren, to whom she was “Nonnie” –Calinda Lucas, and husband William, of Fort Worth, Texas; Catherine Gaertner, and husband John, of Whitehouse, Texas; Dr. Candace Livingston, and husband Todd, of Greenville, South Carolina; Justin Mitchell, and wife Aulbry, of Mineola, Texas; Christina Thomas, and husband Rev. Dr. Matthew Thomas, of Frankston, Texas; Lori Williams, and husband Scott, of Quitman, Texas; Celia Arthur, and husband Kevin, of Trophy Club, Texas; Meridith Ferguson, and husband Britt, of Vernon, Texas; Rebecca Jones, and husband Dr. Nathan Jones, of Bixby, Oklahoma; David Brinkley, and wife Vanya, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and thirteen great-grandchildren – Cade Mitchell, Kyle Williams, Grace Gaertner, Makayla Mitchell, Noah Thomas, Cash Williams, William Lucas, Jr., Elizabeth Gaertner, John Lucas, Emma Thomas, James Lucas, Julianne Jones, and Kathryn Jones. 

Lois is also survived by one sister, Joyce Bayless of Rockdale, Texas; one brother, Dr. Paul McLaughlin, and wife Millie, of Douglass, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. 

Lois was a loving wife and mother, caring teacher, mentor, and irreplaceable friend to many. She will be greatly missed here, and assuredly was greeted in Heaven with the words “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your Lord”. The family requests that any charitable donations in memory of Lois be made to Minority Care International (minoritycareinternational.org), Gideons International (gideons.org) or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org).