Our mother, Sue Ellen Albright Ferguson, passed into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on September 21, 2024. She was born in El Reno, OK, on March 10, 1938, the daughter of John and Billie Albright.

When she was five years old, she accepted Jesus as her Savior at the First Baptist Church in Guthrie, OK. She cherished the relationship with Jesus the rest of her life.

Sue Ellen attended high school in Shawnee, OK, and graduated in 1956. She attended Oklahoma Baptist University for one year before moving to Tulsa, where she met and married her husband, Gordon Ferguson, in 1959.

Her family lived in several states, spanning everywhere from Long Beach, MS, to Cut Bank, MT. She began her Christian ministry in 1969 at Council Road Baptist Church in Bethany, OK, as the youth director. She loved pouring her life into the students and took credit in serving as matchmaker to several marriages later. Upon moving to Montana, she served as chairman of the Christian Women's Club, and she delighted in serving with Christian women from several different faiths. It was here in this tiny town in northern Montana that both of her children accepted Jesus as their Savior, while members of the First Presbyterian Church.

Sue Ellen also began collecting men's and women's fashion hats at this time and became inspired to write historical fashion programs for ladies' church and civic clubs using her hats from different decades, always ending with an inspirational message.

After moving back to Oklahoma City in 1983, the family once again joined Council Road Church. Sue Ellen became well known around the state for her inspirational hat shows and found herself speaking in many towns and cities, calling herself The Glad Hatter. She also taught a young women's Sunday School class, and we estimate she taught for a combined total of 50 years. She did this while serving as the receptionist for then Oklahoma Senator David Boren.

Several years later, Sue Ellen was invited to join the church staff as Council Road's first Minister to Women, which she happily accepted. It was her dream job to be able to get into the lives of women while sharing the love of Christ through biblical counseling. There were plenty of tea parties with hats along the way. The next Council Road pastor, Rick Thompson, charged her with beginning Council Road's first Celebrate Recovery ministry, aimed at helping people overcome addictions, habits, hurts and hang-ups. It quickly grew, giving her an opportunity to know people from completely different walks of life, and she loved every single one of them! She always said, "Don't mess with me – I have the toughest friends in town."

The most important thing in Sue Ellen's life was her relationship with Christ, and she wanted everyone to know Him like she did. Her favorite Scripture was Psalm 91. The thing that gave her the most earthly joy was being a mother and wife. She was a master cherry pie maker and could tie a bow so beautiful that no one wanted to open the gift and mess it up. Her backyard garden was a haven for every bird imaginable.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to everyone at the OU Stephenson Cancer Center in Oklahoma City. Her doctors, Dr. Greg Krempl and his PA, Jamie; Dr. Minh Phan and nurse practitioner, Jessica, and RN, Shea; and Dr. Christina Henson and nurse, Devin, went to extraordinary measures to lengthen mom's life by 17 years. We thank every single employee at this amazing facility who treated her and made her comfortable.

Sue Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, John and Billie Albright of Oklahoma City and two still-born twin boys. She is survived by her daughter, Sarah Sutton and husband, David, of Oklahoma City; and her son, Paul Ferguson and wife, Lynne, and daughter Samantha, of Denver, CO. Her sister is Dianna Carleton (Gene) of Kiefer, OK. Her nieces are Carla Caisse and husband, Steve, and their children, Brandon Beck and wife Kathryn and children Rachel and Robert, Christina Caisse, and Candice Batson and her husband, Louis, and their children Parker and Cooper; and niece, Julie Franklin and husband, Harry, and son, Sean; Gina Kirby and husband, Roy, and their children, Anna and Roy; and Reva Muchow and husband, Jim, and their daughter, Rebecca. Her nephews are David Carleton and wife, Vonda, and children, Matthew and Jonathan; Gordon Foster and wife, Carissa and daughter, Leslie; and David Foster and wife Mary, and their children, Brittany and Jeff; Bradley and Shasta; and Cole and Becca. Her sister-in-law is Phyllis Foster of Claremore, OK. Also, cousins Carol and Louie Poole of Shawnee; and Roger and Martha Patrick of Denver, CO, who passed last year.

The graveside service will take place at the El Reno Cemetery at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 27, with Bob Willis officiating. Everyone is welcome.

The memorial service will be at 1 p.m. in the Worship Center at Council Road Baptist Church in Bethany, OK, with Clint Chamberlain officiating. Please feel free to wear a hat and something purple - two of mom's favorite things. The service will be live-cast on Facebook at Sarah Ferguson Sutton. A reception will take place afterward.

If you would like to donate in lieu of flowers, please make a check to Council Road Baptist Church and designate your gift to the Celebrate Recovery ministry. Viewing will take place at Mercer Adams in Bethany, OK, on Thursday, September 26, from 9-8 p.m. with family in attendance from 3-5 p.m.