FERGUSON, Cora Jones - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Waynetown - Mrs. Cora Ferguson, 83-year-old Waynetown resident, died in Culver Hospital at Crawfordsville at 8:15 p.m. Friday after being scalded over more than half of her body Friday morning when the hot water faucet stuck and she was unable to turn it off or get out of her bathtub. Mrs. Ferguson was found by her grandson’s wife, Mrs. Sarah Small, who lived next door to her, about 8:15 a.m. She had finally been able to turn off the faucet, had drained the tub and walked through three rooms, before losing consciousness and falling across her bed, according to Mrs. Vaudine White, who works for the Smalls in their next-door nursing home. Mrs. Small was taking her 13-month-old daughter over for Mrs. Ferguson to care for when she discovered Mrs. Ferguson unconscious. She called her husband, Lee, and Mrs. White to help her. Mrs. Ferguson regained consciousness quickly, Mrs. White said, and was able to explain exactly what happened in the bathtub. She then instructed her family to call a doctor and get her to a hospital. No one knew exactly how long Mrs. Ferguson had remained in the tub with the scalding water before she was able to turn off the faucet. Culver Hospital officials said that Mrs. Ferguson was burned all over her back and a little on the front, “more than 50 per cent of her body.” The hospital said there was no indication that Mrs. Ferguson had fallen in the tub, making it impossible to get out when the scalding water was pouring in on her. However, at her age, her physical condition may not have enabled her to get out of the tub quickly. Cora May Ferguson was a native of Dover, Ill., born Nov. 2, 1878 to Charles W. and Anna Bence Jones. She married Edward Ferguson Sept. 14, 1894 at Spring Valley, Ill. Mrs. Ferguson was educated in the Dover school, was a member of the Prairie Chapel Baptist Church, and lived most of her life in the Wingate, Mellott and Waynetown neighborhoods. Surviving are four grandchildren, Lee Small of Waynetown, Mrs. Mildred Barkley of Detroit, and Jim Brown and Mrs. Janet Barker, of Toledo, Ohio, 17 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two daughters, Mrs. Hazel Small and Mrs. Reta Brown. Funeral services are announced for 11 a.m. Monday at the Servies Funeral Home with Rev. Harry Hybarger officiating. Burial will be in Waynetown Masonic Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p.m. Sunday.