Paula Nan Ferguson

Paula Nan Ferguson, 82, of Daleville, Indiana, passed away on December 10, 2023. She was born on June 14, 1941, in Indianapolis, Indiana, the daughter of Harry Dwight and Edna Flanigan Neimeyer.

She graduated from Salem High School in 1958 and went on to get her B.S. degree in English Education at Indiana University. Paula was married to Nicholas Anthony Mocas from 1965 to 1969, and her daughter, Melissa Ann, was born to this union. After teaching for 2½ years, Paula began a career in social work. She spent 5 years as an Aid for Dependent Children social worker for Erie County Welfare Department in Sandusky, Ohio. When she was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in 1971, she moved to English in Southern Indiana to be near relatives and friends. English was in the area of the country which held special childhood memories for her and which she felt would be a safe and enjoyable environment for her young daughter. Paula worked for Crawford County Department of Welfare in English for 16½ years, serving as food stamp caseworker for 8 years and Crawford County Welfare Director for the last 8½ years. During her time in English, she reconnected with a childhood friend, at that time a widower with four children, and on October 15, 1983, she married Robert V. (Bob) Ferguson, her husband of 40 years, who survives. After Bob was hired as school superintendent and they moved to Daleville, Indiana, Paula began working for the Indiana State Department of Welfare in Indianapolis. She served as State Consultant in the Institutional Child Abuse and Neglect unit and later as unit Supervisor during the 10 years she was employed there. After taking a paralegal training course, she worked as a paralegal for 8½ years for the law firm of Due Doyle Ewing and Metzger in Indianapolis. Her job as a clerk in the Office of Parking Services at Ball State University lasted for 8½ years until she began her retirement at age 77. During her retirement, she volunteered as treasurer for Covenant Partners Ministries, a United Methodist church in Muncie. She was a licensed social worker, a member of Community of Hope United Methodist Church in Muncie, Indiana, and a member of Central Indiana Mensa. She enjoyed family time, true crime, sports, and politics. Her greatest regret was her failure to teach her children and grandchildren the proper usage of the lie/lay verbs and to stop the extraneous use of the word “like” in their speech.

Survivors besides her husband are daughters, Melissa Benningfield of New Albany, Rhonda (Max) Greene of Campbellsburg, and Rebecca (Andrew) Daigle of West Lafayette; sons, Robert Ferguson of Indianapolis and Ronald (Laura) Ferguson of Arlington, Virginia; brothers, Thomas (Janet) Neimeyer of Knightstown and Rockledge, Florida, and Richard Neimeyer of Pensacola, Florida; nephew, Tommy Neimeyer of Knightstown; special family friend, Anna Moore of Indianapolis; 19 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins and friends.

Preceding her in death were her parents, sister Jonell Neimeyer, and grandson, Timothy Benningfield.

A visitation for family and friends will be held at the Community of Hope United Methodist Church in Muncie on Saturday, December 16, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. with the service following at 3:00 p.m. with Reverend Heather Cress and Reverend Colin Cress officiating. A second visitation and service will be held at New Hope United Methodist Church near Salem on Monday, December 18, from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. with the service following at 1:00 p.m. Rev. George Browning will be officiating. Burial will follow at the Claysville Cemetery, Campbellsburg, IN. Arrangements have been entrusted to Ballard and Sons Funeral Home in Daleville. Memorial contributions can be made to the children’s charity of one’s choice.

You may express condolences or share a memory of Paula at www.ballardandsons.com