Debra Kay Ferguson

Debra Kay Ferguson was born February 11, 1952, in Sumner, Iowa to Joyce and Donald “Yogi” VanBrocklin. She attended the Alpha Elementary School in Alpha, Iowa, until the family relocated to Arizona. She graduated from Safford High School in Safford, Arizona in 1970.

Her marriage to La Vern Ferguson was over 50 beautiful years just recently celebrated in May. Meeting at a “Welcome Home from Vietnam” party in 1970, the couple would later marry on May 24th, 1975, in Fredericksburg, Iowa. They resided in rural Sumner, Iowa, during the early years of their marriage until moving to Moline, Illinois in the late 1970s. After their move to Moline, they were elated in 1978 with the birth of their beautiful daughter, Alicia. Debby and La Vern recently made their permanent move to Tennessee in December 2025 to be closer to Alicia and her family.

Throughout her whole life, Debby gave generously--ever present in her chosen career of Healthcare. First working at Hillcrest Nursing Home in Sumner, Iowa. Later, a significant portion of her career transpired as a Nurse at Trinity Medical Center, in different capacities and departments from ICU to adolescent mental health. Many times, over the years, local family and friends were blessed to have her taking care of their loved ones. Her passion to help others was evident by the years she gave to her career.

Debby had a beautiful eye and talent for crafting. She was never without a bag to do needlepointing, quilting, or knitting. Her talents and gifts were present throughout every chapter of her life, from Christmas Ornaments for her daughter’s grade school classmates to helping friends with quilts. Other crafting projects included a giant human-size book costume for her daughter's play, homemade grocery bags made of cloth (created long before stores started selling them), and endless hemming projects and stitching of clothes for costumes and weddings. Her talent for solving crafting emergencies had no end and fueled that continued passion to help others.

Later in life she was blessed to have several groups of friends that she often met up with for lunches, brunches, and dinners to talk and play games. More than anything she loved her grandsons, Dimitri and Tidus Pickett. Being their “Gama” was something she treasured; whenever possible, she enjoyed their soccer games, Taekwondo lessons, Veteran Ceremonies, choir and so much more. Never one to say “no” to a game of Sweep, or other card games, her competitive and strategic side was coupled with her ever-present vivacious big smile and cunning laugh. Debby’s eyes always sparkled with that deep enduring love when she was spending time with family and friends. Her last goal was to complete her move to Tennessee to see her grandsons and celebrate deep in her heart, the days she could spend time with them.

Preceded in death by her Son, Lucas Adam Ferguson; Mother, Joyce O’Connell, Father, Donald "Yogi" Van Brocklin; Father-In-Law Harold Ferguson, Mother-In-Law Martha Ferguson; Grandfather Judd Van Brocklin, Grandmother Grace Van Brocklin; Aunts Virgina Toenges and Carol Hoepfner, Uncle Russell Van Brocklin; Brothers-In-law Harold “Bud” Ferguson, and Garold “Gary” Ferguson; Sister-In-Law Velda Lynch. She is survived by her husband, La Vern, daughter Alicia (Harrison) Pickett; Sister Terry (Robert) Von Roden; Grandsons Dimitri and Tidus Pickett; Sisters-In-Law Velma “Jean” Jones and Linda Ferguson; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Service will be held on December 27, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at Roselawn Funeral Home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Visitation will take place from 11:00 a.m to 12:00 p.m. - 1 hour prior to services.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Illinois at a later date.