Crawfordsville Journal Review 1-May-1962 3- Waynetown Resident, 83, Dies In Culver- Mrs.
Cora Ferguson Found Unconscious On Bed In Her Home- 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 fond 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.