May 4, 2005 The ADVOCATE’s Free Press & Community News Serving Anderson, Southern Franklin and Western Linn Counties Volume 9, No. 35 Transcribed with permission of Vern Brown Page 5, Column 1: “George P. Ferguson 1925-2005 Funeral Mass for George P. Ferguson, 80, Ottawa, was Saturday, April 30, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Rather Tod Ziegler officiating. Interment was in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Ottawa. Mr. Ferguson died Tuesday, April 26, at Richmond Care Center, Richmond, KS. George P. Ferguson was born January 7, 1925, at Chapman, KS, the son of George E. and Ella Anna (Fiest) Ferguson. He moved to Franklin County in 1938 from Chapman. George graduated from Princeton High School with the Class of 1943. He resided in California a few years, returning to Franklin County where he lived the rest of his life. He had lived in Ottawa since 1987. In the early and mid 1940’s, George hauled milk. Since the late 1940’s, he was an electrician. He worked for Wiggins’ Electric in Ottawa in the late 1940’s. In the 1950’s, he joined Topeka Local 226 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union, working with them until his retirement in 1987. He worked on many projects with several companies in Missouri, Texas, California, Utah, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nevada, Arizona, and Nebraska. George was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Power of the Past, and Aerie Lodge #2700, Fraternal Order of Eagles, all of Ottawa. George and Dorothy Fern Gage were married April 7, 1961, at Miami, OK. She preceded him in death on July 18, 1993. Mr. Ferguson was also preceded in death by his parents, George and Ella Ferguson; his brothers, Ralph Ferguson, Edward Ferguson, and Bernard Ferguson; and his sister, Grace Piersol. George is survived by his daughters, Jorja Kaye Peake of Villa Park, CA, and Glenda Joy Gardiner of Orange, CA; his sons, Dennis Lee Baer of Moreno Valley, CA, and Timothy Lane Baer of Orange, CA; his sisters, Mary Ann Neiswender of Topeka and Lillian L. Speicher of Denver, CO; his brother, James A. Ferguson of Ottawa; seven grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family suggests memorials to Midland Hospice. Dengel and Son Mortuary of Ottawa was in charge of arrangements.” Page 5, Column 2: “Margaret E. Blaker 1922-2005 Mass of Christian Burial for Margaret E. Blaker, 82, Lawrence, was Friday, April 22, 2005, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Lawrence with Father John Schmeidler officiating. Interment was in Reno Cemetery in Leavenworth County. Mrs. Blaker died Sunday, April 17, at the Windsor of Lawrence. Margaret E. Blaker was born September 22, 1922, at Greeley, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Huss) Hastert. She worked for Southwestern Bell for more than 35 years in Lawrence and Topeka before retiring in 1983. Margaret was a substitute switchboard operator for the Lawrence school district and worked in the gift shop at the Lawrence Holidome. She was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and Altar Society, Telephone Pioneers, AARP, Lawrence Widowed Group, American Legion Auxiliary, and Autumn Club. Margaret and Robert A. Blaker were married August 13, 1940. They made their home in Lawrence. He preceded her in death on December 17, 1988. Mrs. Blaker was also preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Mary Hastert; her sister, Helen Shull; and her daughter-in-law, Carole Blaker. Margaret is survived by her son, Norman L. Blaker and his wife, Rhonda, of Katy, TX; her brother, Art Hastert of Leavenworth; her sister, Rosemarie Stifter of Greeley; her granddaughters, Pat Seeberger and Jackie Schick, both of Oklahoma; her great-grandsons; her niece, Donna Kochanski (to whom she was like a second mother) of Ozawkie, and numerous other nieces and nephews. Casketbearers were Anthony Seeberger, Erik Schick, J.J. Shull, Jim Breshears, Harold Gilbreth, and Rob Haney. Memorials may be made to St. John’s Catholic School Endowment in Greeley.” Page 5, Column 3: “May Alice Cash 1908-2005 Funeral services for May Alice Cash, 96, Mound City, were Saturday, April 30, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. at Coffel-Schneider Chapel, Mound City, with Rev. Gary Benjamin officiating. Interment was in Woodland Cemetery, Mound City. Mrs. Cash died Tuesday, April 26, at Golden Heights Living Center, Garnett. May Alice Cash was born May 17, 1908, at Mound City, the daughter of Henry Harrison and Lillie Edna (Akers) Augur. She graduated from Mound City High School in 1931. May was a homemaker. She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Mound City, Mound City Senior Citizens, and the Busy Dozen Club. May and Cecil Cash were married April 22, 1931. He preceded her in death on February 21, 1990. Mrs. Cash was also preceded in death by one brother; Lester Augur, and three grandchildren. May is survived by her son, Henry Cash of Kansas City, MO; her daughters, Wilma McIntosh and Mary Fagg, both of Garnett, Lillian Cash of Scammon, and Colleen Troth of Pleasanton; 17 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren. Music was provided by Nancy Thacker, Juanita D’Albini, Chelsey D’Albini, Melinda Bishop, Helen Roberts, Diana Loewe, and Jeanine Zentner. Casketbearers were Cecil Musgrave, James Musgrave, Richard McCoy, Andy Roberts, Joe Cash, and Josh Cash. Honorary casketbearers were Aaron Thompson, Brandon Heistand, Josiah D’Albini, Nicholas Bishop, Tim Bishop, and Russ Comer. Memorials are suggested to the Golden Heights Living Center Activity Fund. Coffel-Schneider Funeral Home, Mound City, was in charge of arrangements.” Transcribed for Anderson County Kansas USGENWEB By: Lulu B. Nixon