Betty Jewell Ferguson of Flagstaff passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016. Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the United Methodist Church of Holbrook. Graveside services will immediately follow. She was born Aug. 16, 1928, in Columbus, Kan., to Iva Lorene and Charles Benjamin Lopp. After heading west for work due to the Great Depression, Betty’s family eventually settled in Holbrook, where she would meet the love of her life, Bill Ferguson. Betty and Bill married on her eighteenth birthday, Aug. 16, 1946. As a married mother Betty received her associate degree in Arts & Science in 1972 from Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Wash. It was in 1978 that Betty completed her Bachelor of Arts degree from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash. As a textile artist specializing in the cyanotype process, she was recognized in many publications for her artwork, including Quilter’s Newsletter on several occasions. Betty also loved to teach quilting and fiber arts at all levels. She had a way of making others feel special. Through various artistic techniques Betty was familiar with, she would go out of her way to encourage others creatively. Additional hobbies and activities she enjoyed were pottery, jewelry and traveling the West with her husband Bill. Betty spent her married life in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, California and Washington. Survivors include her daughter, Bonnie Griffin, and her husband, Ron Griffin of Flagstaff; her granddaughter, Mary Griffin of Flagstaff; her brother, Jerry Lopp of Peculiar, Mo.; and many cherished friends, cousins, nieces, nephews and step-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, William “Bill” E. Ferguson; her sister, Lorene (Lynn) Starrett; and four brothers, Ben (Myrna) Lopp, Harold Dean Lopp, George Raymond “Ray” (Barbara Bernice) Lopp and William “Billy” Lopp. Norvel Owens Mortuary of Flagstaff was in charge of the arrangements.
