Rebecca Ann Ferguson

Rebecca Ferguson passed away peacefully in her sleep on the evening of January 31st, at the age of 80. It was unexpected and our lives have been darkened without her light. She was the most unique lady you could ever hope to know. Some of you know her as Susie if you grew up with her or knew her when she was married to her first husband, our dad.

She was born the second child to her parents, Robert and Geraldine Browning, in Monroe, Louisiana, but grew up mostly in Carlsbad, New Mexico. It was in Carlsbad as a beautiful young girl, that she met her love, Henry Vinka, and was devastated when he died an early death at the age of 18. She has always spoken of him and wishes to have some of her ashes put on his grave. Which we will do at a time to be determined. At some point she moved to Lubbock, Texas and met our father. They were married for ten years.

She was so much smarter, stronger, and tougher than anyone ever gave her credit. She liked to call herself “Rebel” which was not far from the truth. You couldn’t imagine the courage and strength it took to give her young children up in a complicated divorce. She knew that with her limited education and the work that would be available to her, she wouldn’t be able to take care of her kids the way she wanted, so she told our dad, since he had been working toward a career, that he would have to take us. Unheard of in the early 1970’s. What she didn’t know at that time, of course, was the future. Our father passed away at a young age, so we got to spend our younger years with daddy, not knowing it was actually a gift from her in hindsight.

She moved to Dallas in the late 70’s to live the single life. She loved to cook, sing karaoke, and dance. Our whole family loved to dance. We would all go out together and tear up those dance floors many nights a week. She met her husband, George Ferguson, in Dallas; they were married for twenty-four years. Together they moved to the Austin area to build a lovely home on a golf course. She had never played, but George taught her, and she learned it so well, she became the better player. She played the game up until a couple of years ago. She even hit a hole in one! Some golfers don’t get that in a lifetime. She was amazing.

Rebecca loved her family, animals, and friends. She loved beautiful things. She saw beauty in a way most are not capable of. She was a gifted artist; she also published a book of poems; she was always ahead of her time with her home design ideas. In Mineral Wells there is a home she designed that has Black Lava Rock across the whole front of it. Her idea. The builders thought she was crazy. It is still standing to this day; we drive by it and think it is awesome!

The “Rebel” was predeceased by her husband, George Ferguson; father, Robert Browning; and mother, Geraldine Jeffress.

She is survived by her children, Angel Cissell and Shon Luttrell; her son-in-law, Mark Cissell; her brothers, Bing, Barry, Jamey, and Steve Browning; her sister-in-law, Shara Browning; her sisters, Gail Crittenden and Carla Farris; her brother-in-law, Bill Farris; her loving grandchildren, Teal Luttrell, Ashley Cissell, Kennedy Luttrell, Robert Cissell; her great children, Adison, Lennon, Walter, and Truth; her many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and her great great nieces and nephews. She had many extended/bonus family members as well. We will all miss her dearly and have wonderful stories and memories to share. We can’t forget her dog, Whitie, who doesn’t understand any of this.

A memorial service to be held at Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Chapel, 913 N. Elm St., Weatherford, Texas, on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.

Some of you have asked about a favorite charity, these were her most recent:

Love for Dogs ~ www.lovefordogs.org or Aimees Farm Animal Sanctuary ~ www.aimeesfarmanimalsanctuary.org