Marilyn Ann Ferguson

Marilyn A. Ferguson, known as Gam by her grandchildren, passed away on Sunday, August 30th, 2020, at home surrounded by her family. Marilyn was born in June of 1938, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Marilyn was 82 years old.

Marilyn was the daughter of Lt. Col. William F. Collins and Eileen A. Collins. She was one of 5 siblings - Dean Collins, Nancy Scott, Linda Riley, and Mark Collins. She grew up in a military family and, as a child, lived all over the United States and various overseas locations, including Panama, Germany, and France. She graduated from an American Military high school in Rochefort, France, in 1956.

Marilyn attended college at the University of Maryland in Munich, German and Loyola University in New Orleans, LA. She then completed her bachelor’s degree years later while living in Seoul, Korea.

In 1959, Marilyn married Donald W. Ferguson (Ret. Colonel US Army ) in New Orleans, LA. They had met two years prior at a bowling alley in Poitier, France. Don and Marilyn lived all over the United States and overseas to include Virginia, Texas, Kansas, California, Missouri, Korea, France, and Germany. During their 60 years of marriage, they were only separated twice during Don’s two Vietnam tours of duty.

Marilyn was a military wife, a mother, grandmother and a homemaker. She loved to play tennis and was a member of the Walnut Creek Country Club in Mansfield, TX. Marilyn was an avid bridge player and continued to be a fierce competitor in her later years in her community of Frisco Lakes. She traveled extensively throughout her life, but most loved being at home with her family.

Marilyn is survived by Don, her two children, Dan Ferguson and Leah Harpole, and her four grandchildren, Mallory Harpole, Jack Harpole, Parker Ferguson, and Bennett Ferguson.

Marilyn will be laid to rest at a private ceremony on Tuesday, September 8th at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will not be a pubic ceremony. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that you make a donation in Marilyn’s name to Catholic Charities https://www.ccdallas.org/donate/ or the American Heart Association https://www2.heart.org/site/SPageNavigator/donatenow_heart.html.