Ruby Ruth (McClatchey) FERGUSON

FERGUSON, MCCLATCHEY, TASLER, SIPE, WALL, DAVIS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/8/2017 at 02:19:05

November 20, 1920 --- August 19, 1971

Webster City woman dies in crash
Car, truck collide near Clarion

A grinding car-truck collision at the intersection of two Wright county blacktop roads five miles south of Clarion about 12:05 yesterday afternoon claimed the life of a Webster City woman, Mrs. Ruby Ferguson, and left three more persons injured. The intersection is located about seven miles north of the Hamilton-Wright county line on Wright county road K. Officials at the Wright county sheriff's office said this morning that Mrs. Ferguson, 50, was a passenger in a car driven by her 21-year-old son, Thomas. The car was struck by a gasoline tank truck driven by Wayne Kisinger, 47, of Iowa Falls. Taken to the Clarion hospital for treatment of injuries were Thomas Ferguson; Darwin Ferguson, 52, also a passenger in the Ferguson vehicle; and Kisinger. Darwin Ferguson is listed in serious condition today at the Clarion hospital with chest injuries. His son, who suffered a broken hand and lacerations in the mishap, was treated and released. Kisinger is reported in good condition with a broken back and multiple lacerations.

Officials said that the truck, which was eastbound on the Eagle Grove blacktop, struck the rear end of the Ferguson car which was northbound on County road K. The force of the impact spun the Ferguson vehicle around, with the car going into the ditch on the east side of the road rear end first. After traveling north in the ditch for approximately 90 feet, the car struck the ditch embankment and once again turned around, traveling north for an additional 210 feet, sheriff's deputies said.

Officials theorize that Mrs. Ferguson, who was riding in the back seat of the car at the time, was thrown out as the car turned around in the ditch, with the car passing over her body. She was killed instantly. The truck continued in an easterly direction for some 180 feet, coming to rest in the ditch on the north side of the road. When the truck came to a stop, the tank and the front axle had been torn from it.

Deputies said the tank truck was carrying approximately 1,200 gallons of number two fuel oil which did not ignite. The Clarion fire department dispatched a truck which stood by as workers pulled the wreckage from the ditch. Kisinger reportedly told deputies at the scene of the accident that the truck's brakes had failed as he approached the intersection. The truck, which was owned by Kisinger, was leased to the Iowa Falls Co-op. Law enforcement officials and wrecker crews were at the scene until shortly after 4:30 yesterday afternoon clearing the wreckage from the intersection.

Daily Freeman Journal --- Webster City, Iowa
August 20, 1971

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Ferguson rites on Monday

Funeral services for Mrs. Darwin (Ruby) Ferguson, 50, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Foster Funeral home with the Rev. S.W. Cunningham officiating. Burial will be in the Prairie Center cemetery near Yale, Iowa. Graveside services will be held at 3:30 at the cemetery in Yale.

Ruby Ruth McClatchey, daughter of Rex J. and Rosa Tasler McClatchey, was born Nov. 20, 1920. She was reared and educated in the Yale-Bagley community and graduated from Panora high school in Panora, Iowa. She attended Buena Vista college and later taught school in the Yale-Perry community. Mrs. Ferguson was a World War II Navy veteran.

She was united in marriage April 19, 1947 to Darwin D. Ferguson and the couple made their home in Bagley, later moving to Britt, Iowa, where they resided for 10 years before moving to Webster City seven years ago.

She is survived by her husband; three sons, James Luverne Ferguson and his wife, Susan, stationed with the Army at Fort Gordon, Ga., Thomas Roy Ferguson of Manning, Iowa, and Joseph Linwood Ferguson of Webster City; one grandson, Timothy James Ferguson; her mother, Mrs. Rosa McClatchey of Yale; one brother, Raymond McClatchey of Yale; and three sisters, Mrs. Ernie (Rosella) Sipe of Yale, Mrs. Melvin (Ramona) Wall of Panora and Mrs. Neil (Rosmarie) Davis of Fairbanks, Alaska. She was preceded in death by her father.

Mrs. Ferguson was very active in the Britt community, having taught Sunday school there for eight years as well as serving as a Cub Scout den mother for several years. Mrs. Ferguson was a member of the United Methodist church.