Eunice Elizabeth Ferguson

Eunice Elizabeth Ferguson (née Golay) departed this life on July 31, 2026. She was born to Clair Albert Golay and Clara Helen Golay (Hardesty) on December 29, 1934, the third of four children.

She learned to play the piano at an early age through weekly lessons and periodic recitals, and later learned to play electric/electronic organs, as well, after being pressed into service to play the brand new Hammond C2-based system acquired by her church (Westside Church of the Nazarene) for a church service when she was no older than 15. She had the gift of "perfect pitch," and could prove it. She had an organ in her home from early on, starting with a Hammond M3 "spinet," followed by a solid-state H-series Hammond, and, finally, an Allen Theater 12. She wasn't merely talented but highly accomplished through many hours of playing time, both in rehearsal and "under fire." She studied for a time with her sister who was a professional classical organ teacher. Eunice successfully navigated the first generation Allen digital classical organ system installed in the mid-1970's at West Morris Street Free Methodist Church (where the family of six had transferred its membership). She clearly was qualified to become the first assistant to the principal organist, who became her dear friend, and capably played "the Allen," often.

She "ran with the best," when it came to uncompromising musicianship, whether alone on the piano or organ, or playing one or the other in a duet with her opposite; she was especially good at accompanying vocalists - soloists or ensembles. She continued playing, wherever she went, finally dusting off the existing Yamaha Clavinova digital piano that she discovered in the Community Room at Park Square Manor, where she was a resident. It was "Music with Eunice," every Saturday afternoon at 3:00 for 30 minutes.

She graduated from Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, where she was a proud member of the then 210-voice Tech Choir. She passed her love for vocal music and harmonizing onto her children. She worked briefly in the photography department at the Medical Center on the near west side of downtown Indianapolis.

She met her future husband, Robert Lee Ferguson, the middle child of Damon R. Ferguson, Sr. and Adalia G. Ferguson (Braun), through her cousin, who lived near Robert's family in Morgan County. Robert and Eunice were married on May 7, 1953 in her church on King Avenue in Indianapolis, after which they took up residence at Naval Station Great Lakes in Lake County, Illinois, where Robert was stationed. She worked briefly, near the Station, at Abbott Laboratories until their first child was born, where she quickly made friends with co-workers of Polish descent who threw her a baby shower upon her departure. This was an already established pattern of her life, that is, deep and lasting friendships with those she came into contact, whether grade-school-mates, her husband's family members, neighbors, co-workers, or tenants.

In March of 1955 Robert was honorably discharged, and the three of them returned to Indianapolis. Within a couple of years they purchased their first home together in the School Town of Speedway, where their remaining three children were born.

She loved quality trees, contracting for the planting of a pin oak, a sweet gum, a tulip poplar, and a Russian ash, strategically around the small yard of the first family home, and all at the same time! She also loved birds. Whenever she would see a large group of birds congregated in a line on a power-line she would quip, "they are having bird church!" She passed these loves onto her children.

While living in their first home, Eunice resumed her education by taking extension classes offered by Indiana State University at nearby Ben Davis High School. She ultimately earned her B.A. and then her M.A., both from Indiana University, via the expanding campus of Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis. She taught kindergarten at Carl G. Fisher Elementary School in Speedway, and served as president of the Speedway Parent-Teacher Association (SPT).

But her growth was not only intellectual; having demonstrated the genuineness through her daily witness of her testimony that she had surrendered to Christ at an early age, through the influence of her godly father, she admonished her children from an early age regarding matters of the heart. While she was content with her own holdings and values, she consistently demonstrated a "big tent" attitude towards others, trusting that they, too, would eventually trust Christ as their personal Savior.

She could be sarcastic, even snarky, at times, but always in good fun, entertaining LJ staff right up until the beginning of her final couple of weeks of life. One of her most famous observations was that she "hated ignore-ance." Think about that one, for a moment.

She took advantage of opportunities to learn about the God of the Bible's true nature, through the regimen of Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), and Notes and Outlines from Bible teacher J. Vernon McGee, who's daily Thru-The-Bible AM radio broadcast was always audible when her children came home for lunch from elementary school. She came home one evening from a class she was taking and announced that she had understood better than ever that the Triune God is above all things, holy-love, that those are His principle inseparable attributes. She was the channel through which her children were introduced to the classic daily devotional readings, My Utmost For His Highest, by Oswald Chambers.

Her husband predeceased her on November 19, 2017. She is survived by her brother, David Golay (Lilly Belle); her four children; Gregory (Melinda Lynn), David (Valerie), Gwen Swart (Earl), and Gretchen Willkie; her grandchildren, Elizabeth, Jennifer (Craig), Sara, Daniel (Kristen), Erin (Tyler), Maria, Robert Matthew (Destiny), Joel Henry, Rachel, and Claire (Charlie); and her great-grandchildren, Pearl, Esther, David Earl, Clark, and Lyle.

A brief private graveside service will be conducted at the West Newton Cemetery, where her husband was previously interred. Psalm 90 will be read, as is the tradition in the Golay family. This service is primarily, but not exclusively, for family, since accommodations for parking, shielding from the elements, and voice transmission will be significantly limited. Arrangements have been entrusted to Jones Family Funeral and Cremation Service in Mooresville.

In lieu of flowers, those that loved Eunice might consider making a donation to Life's Journey Hospice, located at 10241 E. Co Rd 100 N (across from I.U. Hospital-West) by contacting the main administrative office at 317-561-6840 or via email at referrals@lifesjourneyhospice.com, knowing that Eunice received moment-by-moment exemplary care there, from March of 2025 until her departure from this life.

To send a condolence to the family or to share a story about Eunice, please visit: www.jonesfamilymortuary.com