Thelma E. Ferry

She was born in the family home on July 15, 1921, in Garden, Mich., daughter of Archie and Hilma (Anderson) McDonald.

She graduated from Cooks High School in 1940. She worked as a waitress in Manistique until Pearl Harbor was bombed and moved to Detroit to work as a riveter on bombers for the war. She joined the Women’s Army Corp, while stationed at Fort Myers, Va., she worked at the Pentagon building in Washington, DC. She met the love of her life, Bert Ferry, in DC shortly after she arrived there. He was serving in Signal Corp at the same time.

Thelma married Bert S. Ferry at Fort Monmouth, N.J., on Dec. 24, 1944. After their military discharge, they returned to Detroit where Thelma worked as a supervisor in a money order office for several years. Her dream was to become a nurse and with much encouragement and help from Bert, she continued her education at the Detroit Practical Nursing Center where she received her LPN. She later graduated from Highland Park College with her RN. She worked in several hospitals in the Detroit area including the Henry Ford Hospital, Oncology Clinic and St. John Hospital.

She and her husband returned to the U.P. in the fall of 1970 and she continued her employment at Christian Park Village in Escanaba and Pinecrest Medical Care Facility in Powers. Her final eight years of employment was as director of nursing, retiring in 1985.

She was an active member of Salem Lutheran Church in Bark River, serving in the women’s group, Bible study group, flower coordinator and altar guild member. Memberships included the Order of the Eastern Star, Troy Chapter, Troy, Mich., for over 50 years, Escanaba Senior Center and the Escanaba Senior Line Dance Group.

She loved to travel, taking in several short trips to many national parks, including longer trips to Alaska, the British Isles and Ireland where she kissed the Blarney Stone. Furthermore she enjoyed walking, reading and lunch with friends.

Thelma is survived by niece, Pat Pruitt, Ky.; several cousins and special friends, Penny Gierke, Betty Wagner, Janice Jaeger, Shirley Couchene, Carol Marohnic and Theresa Grene.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Bert in 1991; infant brother, Vernon John McDonald, brother and sister-in-law Everette and Mae Pruitt; nephew, Joe Pruitt.

The Upper Peninsula Nurses Honor Guard will have a tribute to Thelma on Thursday, Aug. 1, at 10:45 a.m. at the Salem Lutheran Church in Bark River with the a memorial service to follow at 11 a.m. with Pastor Hans Tolpingrud officiating.

She will be laid to rest next to her husband in New Garden Cemetery at 2 p.m. with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Salem Lutheran Church in Bark River. Envelopes will be available.

A message of condolence may be directed to the family by visiting crawfordfuneralhomes.net. The Crawford Funeral Homes are assisting the Ferry family.