Margaret Ferguson Miller

MILLER - Margaret (“Peggy”) Bateman Ferguson……a loving, thoughtful, generous and gracious lady went to be with her Lord and Savior on July 11, 2011, at 96 years of age. Peggy was born in Dublin, Texas on November 27, 1914 to Judge G.O. (Orvil) Bateman and Estelle Smith. She spent her early childhood in Breckenridge, Texas and the family eventually moved to Highland Park, where Peggy graduated from Highland Park High School in 1931. She attended college at Southern Methodist University, where she was a Rotunda Beauty and a member of one of Kappa Kappa Gamma’s first pledge classes there. For numerous years, Peggy and her close Kappa friends worked tirelessly and enthusiastically on continually improving the Kappa house at SMU. Peggy was a member of Oak Lawn Methodist Church, the Dallas Country Club, the Dallas Women’s Club, and Craig Class. In October 1935, Peggy married Searcy M. Ferguson, Sr., a rancher and cotton farmer, and they enjoyed 56 joyous years together, until Searcy’s death in 1992. She was quickly swept off her feet by Clair C. Miller, whom she married in 1993, and they also enjoyed many happy years together, until his death in 2002. Peggy is also predeceased by her sister, Betty Bateman Renfro of Ft. Worth, TX, and step-son Edwin Miller of Dallas, TX. She is survived by her daughter, Julia DuVall Beatie of Falls Village, CT, her son Searcy M. Ferguson, Jr. of Dallas, TX, three step-daughters, Joan Peurifoy, Edwina Miller, and with special gratitude, Barbara Miller. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, including Jeanne DuVall Erickson of Del Mar, CA, Diane DuVall-Rogers of Dallas, TX, Sawnie Ferguson McGee of Greenwich, CT, Malcolm Ferguson and Searcy Ferguson, III of Dallas, TX, Kristina Ferguson, Alexa Ferguson, Julia Ferguson and Jake Ferguson of Dallas, TX, and eleven great-grandchildren that she lovingly cared for, and preciously adored and treasured.

Peggy will be remembered for her loving, kind and selfless heart, and for her genuine, unconditional love for everyone. She believed that “Silence is golden.”, hence, she always saw the good in every person and never said an unkind word about anyone. She had the most admirable and indefatigable character, and she always carried herself with such Southern grace and charm. Her unfailing trust, dignity, and integrity was to be greatly admired and esteemed, as well as her boundless curiosity, courage and interest about everything in life.

Peggy was an accomplished tennis player, and she excelled in winning championships with her husband, Searcy, at Dallas Country Club and Brook Hollow Golf Club for many years. She and Searcy loved to entertain, dance, play bridge, and travel worldwide with their closest friends.

The family would like to especially thank Teresa Gomez for her affection and devotion in caring for Peggy so lovingly.

A private memorial service for the family will be held at Grove Hill Funeral Home

3920 Samuel Blvd. Dallas, TX 75228 in Dallas, TX, per Peggy’s request. Memorials in honor of Peggy’s life may be sent to Kappa Kappa Gamma, c/o Mrs. Jeff Fisher 3332 Stanford Avenue Dallas, TX 75225, or to Save the Whales in the Pacific, c/o Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, P. O. Box 2616, Flag Harbour, WA 98250.