Mildred Emily Rose Ferguson

Carmel ~ Mildred Emily Rose Ferguson, nee Milada Vlk, died unexpectedly on May 26. Born November 14, 1918 in Cicero, IL to Anna and James Vlk, she grew up in Cicero attending local schools and graduating from high school at age 16. She attended Morton Jr. College and night school. When the Great Depression necessitated finding a job, Mildred worked as a stenographer at Lawndale National Bank in Chicago, a clerk typist for the Quartermaster Depot in Chicago, and as a stenographer at Air Research Mfg. Co. in Los Angeles.

Mildred met George Ferguson at the Navy Pier in Chicago. They married in 1943, a union which lasted 63 years until his death in December 2006. After WWII, George went to Purdue to finish his degree and their first daughter was born. After his graduation, three other children were born while George worked in Kokomo, IN. After working for RCA in Marion, IN, George went to work for FMC in San Jose and the family lived in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills for 18 years. His career took them to Michigan, Florida, Indianapolis and Southern California. They moved to Carmel in 1981.

Earlier in her life, Mildred loved to play basketball, ice skate, roller skate, ride bicycles and for several years before moving to Carmel, playing golf. She loved playing the organ and piano, bowled for 50 years, and her passion was cruising. As her children grew up, Mildred was an involved mom who belonged to PTA, was a Camp Fire Leader and a Boy Scout Den Mother. She loved watching her children swim competitively as well as watching her two sons play water polo including the ’77 Olympics. Mil was a diehard Forty-Niner fan as well as a fan of the sports teams of all the colleges attended by her children and grandchildren..

Mildred belonged to the Monterey Civic Club, the California Czech and Slovak Club, the wonderful Jesters Club, was a past president of the Carmel Woman’s Club and also held other positions on its Board, and the Yes for Carmel Club. She is the Bowler of the Year for 2011 of the Thursday Morning Bowling League. She played Bridge and Shanghai and made some wonderful friendships in all her involvements.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Jerry Vlk of Berwyn, IL and Jim Wolf of Strongsville, OH. She is survived by her children, Pat (Tom Milner) Ferguson of Meadow Vista, CA, twins, Bill (Ginger) Ferguson of Evans, GA and Barbara (Uli) Siebeneick of Seaside and Jim (Jody) Ferguson of Opelika, AL and Santa Clarita, CA. She is also survived by her grandchildren Markus Siebeneick and Mieke Siebeneick (Kevin) Toland; Dylan and Shannon Milner; Jerrod, Jordan and Jessica Ferguson; and Matt, Austin, Blake and Wyatt Ferguson; her great-grandchildren, Elliot and Claire Toland; her brother, Bob Vlk of Universal City, TX and numerous nephews and nieces. She was a loving and beloved woman who will be remembered and treasured.

A Celebration of Mildred’s Life will be held the weekend of July 23 – 24 and notification will be published prior to that time. Memorial contributions in Mildred’s memory may be made to her selected charities: Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, 1140 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL, 60607; Christian Appalachian Project, 211 Crab Orchard Rd., Lancaster, KY, 40446; Smile Train, PO Box 96231, Washington, DC, 20090; Doctors Without Borders, 333 – 7th Ave., 2nd Fl., New York, NY, 10001; Monterey Bay Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, PO Box AR, Carmel, 93921.