Joyce Daisy Ferguson, 90, of Idaho Falls, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014, of natural causes at the Gables of Ammon. She had been under the care of Encompass Home Health and Hospice.
She was born June 5, 1924, in Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia, to Hugh Charles Hams and Hilda May Hearn Hams. Joyce grew up in Queensland. She attended Ascot State School in Brisbane, and later attended a business college.
Joyce's special love was singing. She sang, "Somewhere over the Rainbow," for a class program, which was the only time she performed in Australia.
Her life changed when the first U.S. Navy ships arrived in Brisbane in 1940. The U.S. Army occupied several buildings in Brisbane, where Joyce went to work for the U.S. Army Quartermaster in 1942. It was here she met a soldier by the name of Eldon while he was delivering the mail. On June 30, 1944, she married Eldon George Ferguson in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She was a war bride at the age of 24.
Eldon was shipped back to the states in September 1944 to Walla Walla, Wash., awaiting his new bride's arrival. At the end of World War II, some 1 1/2 years later, 1500 brides aboard the USS Mariposa arrived in San Francisco on Sept. 6, 1946. Joyce became a U.S. citizen Oct. 5, 1948.
Joyce worked at the Idaho Livestock Auction for over 60 years, from 1948 until 2010, before she retired.
Joyce was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in September 1955.
She sang in Choraleers, Chansonettes, church choirs, at weddings and funerals. Joyce was a member of "Nice to Know You" Square Dance Club, and the Jefferson Hills Women Golf League. Joyce also enjoyed bowling. After 68 years of living in the United States, Joyce never lost her native Australian accent.
She is survived by two sons, Gregory Charles (Twila) Ferguson and Barry George (LeAnn) Ferguson, both of Rigby; nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Besides her parents, Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Eldon, on Feb. 5, 1977; a daughter, Jo Ann Harris Holferty; a grandson, Samuel George Ferguson; and two sisters, Myrtle and June.
The family would like to thank the caregivers at the Gables of Ammon and Encompass Home Health and Hospice for their loving care of their mother and grandmother.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, Ririe-Shelton Cemetery. The family will visit with friends from noon until 1 p.m. at Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First St. in Idaho Falls.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.coltrinmortuary.com.
Published in Post Register Sept. 4, 2014
Joyce Daisy Ferguson, 90, of Idaho Falls, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014, of natural causes at the Gables of Ammon. She had been under the care of Encompass Home Health and Hospice.
She was born June 5, 1924, in Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia, to Hugh Charles Hams and Hilda May Hearn Hams. Joyce grew up in Queensland. She attended Ascot State School in Brisbane, and later attended a business college.
Joyce's special love was singing. She sang, "Somewhere over the Rainbow," for a class program, which was the only time she performed in Australia.
Her life changed when the first U.S. Navy ships arrived in Brisbane in 1940. The U.S. Army occupied several buildings in Brisbane, where Joyce went to work for the U.S. Army Quartermaster in 1942. It was here she met a soldier by the name of Eldon while he was delivering the mail. On June 30, 1944, she married Eldon George Ferguson in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She was a war bride at the age of 24.
Eldon was shipped back to the states in September 1944 to Walla Walla, Wash., awaiting his new bride's arrival. At the end of World War II, some 1 1/2 years later, 1500 brides aboard the USS Mariposa arrived in San Francisco on Sept. 6, 1946. Joyce became a U.S. citizen Oct. 5, 1948.
Joyce worked at the Idaho Livestock Auction for over 60 years, from 1948 until 2010, before she retired.
Joyce was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in September 1955.
She sang in Choraleers, Chansonettes, church choirs, at weddings and funerals. Joyce was a member of "Nice to Know You" Square Dance Club, and the Jefferson Hills Women Golf League. Joyce also enjoyed bowling. After 68 years of living in the United States, Joyce never lost her native Australian accent.
She is survived by two sons, Gregory Charles (Twila) Ferguson and Barry George (LeAnn) Ferguson, both of Rigby; nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Besides her parents, Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Eldon, on Feb. 5, 1977; a daughter, Jo Ann Harris Holferty; a grandson, Samuel George Ferguson; and two sisters, Myrtle and June.
The family would like to thank the caregivers at the Gables of Ammon and Encompass Home Health and Hospice for their loving care of their mother and grandmother.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, Ririe-Shelton Cemetery. The family will visit with friends from noon until 1 p.m. at Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First St. in Idaho Falls.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.coltrinmortuary.com.
Published in Post Register Sept. 4, 2014
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