Obituary of Fayrene Ferguson Benson

Fayrene Ferguson Benson, cherished wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt , and friend, was serenaded by angels into heaven to be with her beloved James and Jimmie on Monday, June 20, 2016. She was born on February 14, 1926, youngest of three children born to Clayborn and Marie (Coleman) Ferguson at Rough Edge where she attended a one-room school for eight years. After graduating from Battiest High School in 1943, she caught a bus at Bethel, bound for Durant, to attend Durant State Teachers’ College so that she could fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher. After passing a teacher certification test her first summer at Durant, at age 17 she began to teach at Honobia. She later took a Civil Service job as a typist supervisor at the Red River Army Depot during WWII. During a two-week leave from the Navy James and Faye were married on September 23, 1944. He left for duty the next day. After the war, they moved to Clebit, and James resumed his high school education at Battiest. With the birth of both sons, Jimmie in 1946 and Tony in 1948, they both attended summer school at Durant to finish their degree. She went on to graduate with honors and acquire a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts degree. She also did extensive graduate work at OU, OSU, and East Texas University. In 1952, Faye resumed her teaching career at Golden, Oklahoma. She also taught at Denison Elementary where she was principle for 8 years. McCurtain County was blessed when Fayrene became County Superintendent for 20 years. Her legacy is etched strongly in the hearts and minds of her many students. Fayrene’s honors and accomplishments are extensive: Nominated Oklahoma Woman’s Hall of Fame, Torch Award for Community Service, Citizen of the Year, First Lady of McCurtain County, listed in Community Leaders of the World, listed in Personalities of the South, named McCurtain County Teacher of the Year, named McCurtain Co. I Can Lady, received Maurice Wal-Green Award for Exceptional Children, received County Superintendents Associates of Oklahoma Award, Friends of the Forest Award in 2002, the Herron Foundation, Inc. Award in 2013 and VIM Award for Retired Teachers. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Idabel, OK, Delta Kappa Gamma, OEA, NEA, McCurtain County Oklahoma Retired Teachers Educators, Eastern Star, and DAR. Accomplishment’s of which Faye was most proud was Co-Charter and President of Son-Ray Industries for Handi-Capped adults, establishing a Choctaw Bi-Lingual Program, and one of three Authors of The Traveling Timber Towns Book. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 71 years, James, her parents, a son, Jimmie, a brother, J.C. Ferguson and his wife, Cecile, and their son Johnny, a sister, Irene Houston and her husband, Harry. Fayrene is survived by son, Tony and his wife Gladysann, of Idabel, granddaughter, Fawn Creighton and husband Brandon, grandson Blaze and wife Jamie, great-grandchildren Presleigh and Cannon Creighton, Billie and Dash Benson, all of Montgomery, TX, special nieces, Thela Leonard and Sandra Smith, and a nephew, Elton Ferguson all of Idabel. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the McCurtain County Veterans Museum, PO Box 222, Idabel, OK 74745 or a charity of your choice.