Mary Wright Montague Ferguson, 100 Chattanooga

Mary Wright Montague Ferguson, of Chattanooga, Tenn., died peacefully Monday, Oct. 17, 2016. She was 100.

She was born Nov. 28, 1915, in Chattanooga and grew up on Union Avenue, now a part of the McCallie campus (where students enjoyed it as a haven for bridge and occasional smoking).

She was a graduate of Bright School (‘26), Girls Preparatory School (‘31), attended Hollins College and graduated with a degree in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia.

She was the daughter of the late Margaret Reid Peale of Crossroads, Va., and Robert Toombs Wright of Chattanooga.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga, Junior League of Chattanooga, National Society of Colonial Dames of America, Chickamauga Chapter, The Daughters of the American Revolution and the Lookout Mountain Garden Club.

She was active in the Red Cross Canteen during World War II, very active as a volunteer in Changed Lives, a volunteer at the Memorial Hospital Cancer Center and a volunteer at First Presbyterian Church and often a participant in their foreign mission trips.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Norton Thayer Montague Jr., of Chattanooga and much later by her husband, Robert Thrift Ferguson of Charlotte, N.C. She was also preceded by her brother, John Peale Wright of Lookout Mountain; grandson, Dr. Charles Thayer Montague and grandson, Joseph Awerkamp.

Survivors include: Twin sons, Dr. Norton Thayer (Cynthia) Montague, III of Shoal Creek, Ala., and Dr. Robert Toombs Wright (Betsy) Montague of Elder Mountain; daughter, Mary Caroline (Robert) Awerkamp of Maple Hill, Kan.; 12 grandchildren, Margaret Montague (John Pollock), Robert (Kiran) Montague Jr., Mary Frances (Jason) Stone, Thayer (Carrie) Montague, Georgia (Hans) Baldau, Caroline Awerkamp, Virginia Madrid, Robert (Inger) Awerkamp, Louise Awerkamp, Marilyn (Aaron) Darakjy, Francis (Shannon) Awerkamp and Mary Awerkamp; 48 greatgrandchildren and four great-greatgrandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to First Presbyterian Church Foreign Missions, 554 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, Tenn. 37402; Fellowship of Christian Athletes, P.O. Box 338, Hixson, Tenn., 37343; or the charity of your choice.

Very recently, while in declining health she asked for pen and paper and wrote, “We will now help each other to serve God.” This statement is a fine example of her belief and how she lived her life.

Online guest book available at wilsonfuneralhome. com.

Arrangements: W.L. Wilson & Sons Funeral Homes-Fort Oglethorpe.