Lena M. Ferguson, 84, of Niles died Thursday, Feb. 18, after an extended illness with her family by her side at Memorial Hospital in South Bend.
She was born June 4, 1931 to the late James W. and Oshea (Stoner) Woodlee in McMinnville. After high school, she met Robert Ferguson, whom she fell deeply in love with and married March 7, 1954 at a ceremony in South Bend, Ind., and they shared 53 years of marriage.
She was an avid gardener and loved to work in her flower beds, her rose or vegetable garden.  After retirement Lena and her husband loved to travel, where she often created beautiful needlepoint pieces. Two of their favorite destinations were McMinnville, where she was born, and Hawaii. When her health permitted, she was enjoyed bowling and was said to be a fierce euchre player.
Preceding her in death are her parents, her husband, a brother, James “Hobert” Woodlee and sisters, Marguerite Woodlee, Pauline Campbell, and Irene Woodlee.
She is survived by her daughter, Pamela Ferguson-Pauszek of Niles and her three sons, Rick Ferguson of Arlington, Texas, Ronald (Vincenza) Ferguson of Dowagiac and Robert (Lynn) Ferguson of New Whiteland, Ind.  She is also survived by her brother, Walter (Cheryl) Woodlee of Bristol, Ind.; eight grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
A time of visitation will be Friday, Feb. 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held at Brown Funeral Home on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 9:30 a.m. with a committal to follow at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Michigan - Great Lakes, 564 South Main Street, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, Mich., 48104. Online condolences can be left at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHome. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.