Obituary of Irene Houston

Irene Houston, age 91, passed away on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at Texarkana, TX. She was born on December 8, 1920, the daughter of Clayborn M. "Slim" and Marie Coleman Ferguson. She grew up in Pickens, OK and attended school in Battiest, OK. On August 17, 1939 she and Harry Houston were married. To this union, two daughters, Thela and Sandra, were born. Together, they built a Texaco distributorship. They started with one service station then built a multiple outlet distributorship. Irene loved being active and involved. She also loved working in her yard and sitting in her red chairs. Her sister, Fayrene, would often sit with her and they would have a coke, snack or popcorn. Her neighbors would come by and visit and many others would simply be passing by and stop for a chat. When her minister and friend Cory would sit with her, she enjoyed giving him instructions. One of the highlights of her day was going to Sonic with her daughters. One of her favorite past times was making beautiful quilts for her family. She enjoyed weekend trips with her lifelong friend, Betty Stow, and working in her beloved Central Baptist Church with her friend, Lavetta Angelley. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harry; nephew, Jimmy Monroe "Jimbo" Benson; brother and sister-in-law, J.C. and Cecile Ferguson; and lifelong friend, Betty Stow. Irene is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Thela and Mickey Leonard and Sandra and Skippy Smith, all of Idabel; sister and brother-in-law, Fayrene and James Benson of Idabel; grandchildren, Scott Guthrie and Teri VanDerMeer of Tulsa, OK, Elizabeth and Jay Fitzgerald of Norman, OK, Sanda Gambol and Sendi Raney, both of Idabel; great-grandchildren, Laurel Fitzgerald, Jayme Fitzgerald, Ryen Guthrie, Shocka Gambol, Brasen Raney and Rasee Raney; nephews, Johnny Ferguson, Elton and Marsha Ferguson, and Tony and Gladys Benson; great-nieces and nephews, Fawn Creighton, Blaze Benson, P. J. Ferguson, Sheree Robertson, Reechia Kaiser, and Brandi Fielding; a very special friend, Lavetta Angelley; many other relatives and a host of friends. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 28, 2012 at the Central Baptist Church in Idabel with Bro. Cory Wall and Bro. Joe Voyles officiating. Interment will follow at the Denison Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 27, 2012 at the funeral home. Contributions in honor of Irene can be given to Central Baptist Church, P.O. Box 177, Idabel, OK 74745.