Obituaries – Alum July 2011

Doug Ferguson (Class of 1977) Date of Death: 6/27/11

"Ferguson, Doug L. Omaha. Passed away at his home following a courageous battle with gastric cancer. Doug grew up in Arnold, Nebraska and received degrees from UNL (Bachelors in Psychology), Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky (Masters in Divinity), and UNO (Masters in Counseling). Doug served in ministry for 21 years at Nebraska Methodist churches in Chester-Hubbell, Hallam, Osceola, and Faith Westwood in Omaha. In 2000, Doug established Celebration Covenant Church in Millard, with the mission to ""Reach, Teach, and Unleash committed followers for Jesus."" He served there faithfully until the time of his passing. 

Doug was actively involved in the Nebraska Emmaus Community for 26 years. He recently served on the Midwest Covenant Conference executive board. Many came to faith in Christ due to Doug's genuine and sacrificial love for others. Although our hearts are heavy, we cheer Doug on as he begins his next Great Adventure. He is preceded in death by his mother, Dolores Ferguson. Doug is survived by his wife of 38 years, Cyndi Ferguson; children, Charissa Beckner, husband Joshua, Luke Ferguson, wife Chelsey, Chelsea Johnson, husband Bryan, granddaughter, Kinsley Beckner, father, Frosty Ferguson; siblings, Richard Ferguson, wife Lois, Barry Ferguson, wife Kathy, Ranald Ferguson, wife Carol, Joe Ferguson, Cheryl Bouwens, husband Rodney Watson. VISITATION Thursday 5-8pm with a time of remembrances at 7pm at Braman Mortuary (Southwest Chapel) Celebration of Doug's Life, Saturday 11am at First Covenant Church (201 N. 90th St.). Inurnment: Private. Memorials can be directed to Celebration Covenant Church (16868 Giles Road Omaha, NE 68136)"

Kendall Mayhew (Non-Graduating Alum) (Class of 1948)

The Rev. Kendall P. Mayhew, 98, passed away at 7:47 a.m. Sunday, June 26, 2011, at Fair Oaks Nursing Home in Greenville. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 30, 2011, at the Greenville Free Methodist Church with the Rev. Gregory Groves officiating. The family will receive friends at the church from 10 a.m. Thursday morning until service time. For those who desire, memorials may be made to the Bond County Hospice, Greenville College or the Greenville Free Methodist Church at the Church or at the Donnell-Wiegand Funeral Home in Greenville. Interment will be at 1 p.m. Friday, July 1, at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, Ill. Full Military Honors will be held at the Greenville Free Methodist Church by the American Legion Post 282 and V.F.W. Post 1377, both of Greenville. The Rev. Kendall Pearce Mayhew, the son of the Rev. John Lemuel Mayhew and Mary Anna Dilbeck Mayhew, was born on Feb. 25, 1913, in Colchester, Ill. His father was a Free Methodist pastor and he was raised in various towns in the Central Illinois Conference. He graduated from Greenville High School in 1932. He went on to Greenville College, graduating in 1937, working for the Bass Funeral Home during those years. He attended Asbury Seminary and graduated from Eden Seminary in Webster Groves, Mo., in 1957. He and Mildred pastored churches including Litchfield and Alton. He answered his country's call by joining the Army on March 22, 1944, as a chaplain serving in the Southern Philippines and the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre serving overseas for one year, one month and 12 days. He rose to the rank of captain, being honorably discharged on May 20, 1946, at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. He was awarded the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, American Theater Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, and World War II Victory Medal. He returned to the Free Methodist Church where he pastored in Toddville, Iowa, in Pana, Ill., in Centralia for seven years, then again serving in the Army in Japan during the Korean Conflict, where his family was able to join him for two years. He returned and served Free Methodist Churches in St. Louis at the First Church for two years, Alton Church for six years, Centralia Church for seven years, Springfield Church and retired from the Vandalia Free Methodist Church. Kendall then began working for the Central Illinois Conference until the age of 82, retiring again in 1995. He spent 63 years with the Free Methodist Church and served as an Army chaplain for over 20 years, retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Kendall and Mildred Irene Bentley were united in marriage on July 26, 1939, in Boone, Iowa, her home, and enjoyed almost 70 years together before her death on April 30, 2009. They are the parents of two children who survive, Sharon, wife of Dr. John K. Dawdy of Greenville and Ronald and his wife, Judy Mayhew, of Alton. Kendall is also survived by his brother Raymond L. Mayhew of Aiken, S.C., grandchildren, David (Valerie) Dawdy, Dr. Anne, Mrs. Christopher Borwick, Jennifer, Mrs. Lance Tinsley, Aaron Mayhew, Adam (Jami) Mayhew and Justin (Heather) Mayhew. Kendall has 16 great-grandchildren: Jack Dawdy, Will Dawdy, Henry Dawdy, Liza Dawdy, Eli Borwick, Sophie Borwick, Abigail Borwick, Jasmine Hughes, Carrissa Tinsley, Mya Tinsley, Jada Tinsley, Aden Mayhew, Bailey Mayhew, Averi Mayhew, Sophie Smith and Parker Mayhew. Kendall is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Mildred, and his sister, Hilda Blowers. Kendall is a past president of the Greenville Kiwanis Club, served on the Greenville College Board of Trustees, and is a member of the Gateway Conference of the Free Methodist Church.

• Wife: Predeceased him

Rev. Sharon B. Kelley (Class of 1995)

KELLEY, Sharon B., 65, Lexington, widow of Stephen B. Kelley, M.D., died Wed., Feb. 25, 2004 at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. Born in Ionia, MI, she was the daughter of the late Thane Benedict, II, and the late Elizabeth Bergstrom Campbell. She was a graduate of Western College for Women and Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, KY and was a retired minister. Mrs. Kelley was a member of Southern Acres Christian Church. Survivors include her children, Lori (Gordon) Childs, Lexington, Deborah (Dale) Hardee, Columbia, TN, Karen (Keith) Roark, Georgetown, and Stephen B. (Stacey) Kelley, Jr., Somerset; and grandchildren, Josh and Lauren Childs, Lexington, Tyler and Allison Hardee, Columbia, TN, Kalena, Kelsey, Karlee, and Kenzie Roark, Georgetown, Aubrey, Natalie, Lyndsey, and Gracey Beth Kelley, Somerset. Funeral services will be 11:00 am Sat. at Southern Acres Christian Church with Rev. Wally Rendel officiating. Burial will follow at 3:00 pm in Lakeside Memorial Gardens in Somerset, KY. Visitation will be 5-8 pm Fri. at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, Harrodsburg Road. Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Diabetes Association, 1941 Bishop Lane, Suite 110, Louisville, KY 40218 or the Kidney Foundation of Kentucky-National, 250 East Liberty Street, Suite 710, Louisville, KY 40202.

• Husband: Predeceased her

Ellen F. Keller (Class of 1927)

ELLEN FRANCES. KELLER  

Date of Birth - 12/08/1903

Date of Death - 06/08/2009

Mary A. Klopfenstein (Class of 1950)

"MARY AGNES (ARNOLD) KLOPFENSTEIN, 91, of Leo, passed away on Tuesday, June 8, 2010, at The Cedars in Leo. Born on Dec. 19, 1918, in Buffalo Springs, N.D., Mary moved to Phoenix, Ariz. at the age of two. She was a graduate of Phoenix Union High School and Arizona State University, later earning a Master's degree in Religious Education from the Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky. Mary wed Don W. Klopfenstein on Dec. 27, 1949; the couple moved to Grabill in 1953. She taught elementary school for 32 years, spending the last 22 years at Leo Elementary, prior to her retirement in 1981. She was the 2003 Honorary Senior Citizen for the Grabill Country Fair and also a member of Crossview Church, where she continued active attendance until the final weeks prior to her passing. Mary is survived by two sons, David A. Klopfenstein of Colorado Springs, Colo. and Timothy J. Klopfenstein of Forest, Va.; and five grandchildren, Jeremy, Elizabeth, Xiana, Rebekah and Joel. She was preceded in death by her husband, Don; and sister, Lois Schepman. Memorial service is 2 p.m. Sunday, June 20, 2010, at Crossview Church, Grabill. Memorials may be made to Crossview Church Building Fund, 13313 Indiana Street, P.O. Box 160, Grabill, IN 46741 or The Cedars, 14409 Sunrise Court, Leo, IN 46765. Arrangements by Hockemeyer Funeral Home, Harlan"