Marlene Ferguson

Marlene Ferguson, 79, Springfield, Mo., formerly of Marquette, passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at Castlewood Senior Living in Nixa, Mo.
A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Monday, April 8 at United Methodist Church in Aurora. Rev. Kim Dunker will officiate. Inurnment will be in Aurora Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be made in care of the family to be determined at a later date. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com.
Marlene Ferguson, the daughter of Wendell and Mary (Kotik) Snyder was born at Kearney, Neb., on May 11, 1944 and passed away at Nixa, Mo., on April 2, 2024 at the age of 79.
Marlene grew up on a farm in Kearney where she attended the Stone School. She graduated from Kearney High School and went on to Kearney State College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education. She moved to Marquette shortly after graduation.
She married John Ferguson on June 5, 1966 at the First Christian Church in Kearney. Marlene taught English at Marquette High School. When the children came she stayed home and worked at the bank part time. Upon John’s retirement, they moved to Lincoln and lived there for eight years until moving to Springfield, Mo., in August 2022.   Marlene was a member of the United Methodist Women, was pianist and organist at Marquette United Methodist Church, served with the Stephen Ministries in the Marquette and Aurora United Methodist Church, was involved with Marriage Encounter, served on the Marquette School Board and coached Marquette girls’ softball teams.  
She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Wendell Snyder and Doug Snyder.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, John Ferguson of Nixa, Mo.; 3 daughters, Lisa Ferguson of Aurora, Catherine (Kevin) Wilbur of Nixa, Mo., and Sally (Travis) Schroer of Hallam; five grandchildren, Justin (Johnna) Happold, Julie (Sam) Wiedel, Jaclyn (Derek) Stinson, Tyson Schroer and Janessa Schroer and five great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Lois Snyder of Colorado, Ann (Jim) Richhart of Georgia and Jane (Roger) Berg of Lincoln and brother-in-law, Todd (Gwen) Ferguson of California, other relatives and friends