August 4, 1939 - May 31, 2023
The memorial services celebrating and honoring the life of Norma Jean Ferguson will be held 1:00 P.M. Wednesday June 7, 2023, in the Central Christian Church with Reverend Susan Payne and Reverend Don Johnson co officiating, Services will be live streamed through Brown-Cummings Funeral Home Facebook page. Services and complete cremation care are under the direction of Brown-Cummings Funeral Home.
Norma passed from this life on her 65th wedding anniversary, May 31, 2023, at the age of 83, at her home with her husband and family by her side. She leaves behind a trail of kindness and many acts of service to others.
Norma was born August 4, 1939, in Kinta, Oklahoma. She was the youngest child of Marshall Quinton and Delma Viola (Brown) Buzan’s five children. She and her brothers and sisters were raised in Henryetta, Oklahoma, where many aunts, uncles and cousins congregated regularly for family events. Norma graduated from Henryetta High School in 1957. She maintained friendships with cousins, childhood friends, and fellow Henryetta Hens to the present.
In high school, she dated Tim Ferguson, son of the Rev. Grady Ferguson and his wife, Ruth. The gift of a Philmont Boy Scouts of America pin eventually evolved into an engagement ring at the Christmas Eve Communion Service in 1957. They were married on May 31, of 1958 at the First Christian Church in Henryetta, with Tim’s Dad/father officiating.
Married life took Norma and Tim to Enid, Oklahoma, (Phillips University), New Orleans (Tulane and Loyola universities) and back to Enid. Norma worked on her higher education throughout this time, in addition to adding two children to the family. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and Master of Science Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Phillips University. She did post graduate studies at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama. Norma spent five years with the Enid Public Schools as a first-grade teacher at Hoover Elementary School. She loved her students and fondly recalled facts about them more than fifty years later.
Norma achieved the status of Licensed Professional Counselor in 1966. Her career in the mental health field spanned over 52 years. She devoted her professional life to the developmentally disabled by working for over 30 years as the Director of Professional Services at Billings Fairchild Center, a facility for individuals with an intellectual disability, in Billings, Oklahoma. The Norma Ferguson Center was dedicated upon her retirement and was a testament to her commitment to those who were served at the facility. Norma continued her work as a consultant at Billings until her passing. Additionally, she and Tim worked together providing contract services to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse for approximately 19 years.
Professional development and volunteerism were woven into Norma’s work ethic. She was actively involved on the national, state and local levels in her untiring efforts to promote and improve services for individuals with an intellectual disability and those diagnosed with a mental illness.
Norma served in numerous offices of the then-named “American Association of Mental Retardation” and earned accolades and “Fellow Status” for her professional service. She was honored with awards for outstanding achievements and contributions to the field. Norma was recognized for “Meritorious Contribution” to the field of Developmental Disabilities in the twentieth Century. Additionally, she was appointed by the Governor to serve on several state committees on Strategic Planning on services for the intellectually disabled.
Service was an important component of Norma’s life. She loved to volunteer and was willing to take on a service project. She was a proud member of the Enid Junior Welfare League and P.E.O. Chapter FS. She has served as a Board Member of the Garfield County Mental Health Association, Phillips University Alumni Association, American Red Cross, Campfire Girls, Hedges Community Speech and Hearing Center, and Enid YWCA. She served on the Judicial Nomination Commission for the State of Oklahoma.
Norma was the recipient of the Enid YWCA “Volunteer of the Year Award” and the “YWCA Woman of the Year Award”. The Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma, Inc. honored her with the prestigious Frances Hesselbein Award. She cherished receiving the Chapter FS Lifetime P.E.O. Star Award.
Norma had a certain flair. She loved hosting gatherings and family holidays, always complete with special touches and party favors. Her grandchildren will always remember the traditions she put into place for the family. She loved her P.E.O. sisters, Mexican Train gatherings, gourmet club, Wednesday night dinner group, Billings Ladies Group, along with other special gatherings with friends. The outpouring of support during her six-year pancreatic cancer journey was greatly appreciated by her and the entire family.
All this being said, Norma can best be described as a down-to-earth, wonderful person.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Jack, who died at a young age. As an adult, she rotated Thanksgiving with her other siblings for nearly 50 years. Those siblings that predeceased her include brother, Rex and wife Myrtle Lou Buzan; sister, Susie, and husband, Wendell Hurt; sister-in-law, Beth Humphrey and husband Jim; brother-in-law, Paul Ferguson; sister-in-law, Marilyn Ferguson; and nephew, Bill Ferguson.
Norma is survived by her devoted husband of 65 years, Tim Ferguson; daughter, Tamara; son, Eric and wife Teresa; and son-in-law, Jeff Hermen. Her six grandchildren include Taylar Ferguson Lentz and husband Casey, Kaitlyn Ferguson, Aubrey Hermen and fiancé Michael Bussow, Zane Hermen, Noah Ferguson and Ezra Ferguson, and great-grandsons, Lincoln and Levi Lentz. She also leaves behind her beloved sister, Marcelene and husband Ellis, of Clear Lake, TX. She adored her nieces and nephews as her own including Kim, Julie, Lou Ann, Marshall, Pam, Lisa, Laura, Lanna, Debra, Donna, and their families. Buzan cousins were important to her. Close friends were family to Norma.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to P.E.O. Chapter FS to help underwrite a student scholarship, Ferguson Center (Love Fund) at Billings Fairchild Center or Central Christian Church with Brown-Cummings Funeral Home serving as the custodian of the funds at 400 W. Maple, Enid, Okla. 73701.
Obituaries are posted, in part, due to the generosity of The Commons.
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