Lena Grey (Lea) Ferris was born in Eldorado, Oklahoma on December 16, 1926 to Bonnie and Glenn Faught, one of seven children. She graduated from high school in Eldorado and attended Oklahoma College for Women in Chicasha, Oklahoma. She married Ensign Glenn Ferris on July 16, 1947. As the wife of a career naval officer, Lea moved 26 times, living in 9 states and 3 countries. Upon Cdr. Ferris’ retirement, the couple moved to College Station where Mr. Ferris worked at Texas A&M University. Lea always took an active part in her church and her community wherever she lived. She taught Sunday school for over 25 years and was a senior advisor for Navy Relief for over 15 years. On the local level, she was a member of First Baptist Church in College Station and worked as a volunteer with the Red Cross Blood Bank, the Brazos Valley Food Bank, and Meals on Wheels. She served as a Pink Lady with St. Joseph’s Hospital, a docent at the George Bush Library and was a very active member of the Officer’s Wives Club– as well as serving as president of the Texas A&M’s Newcomer club.

Lea loved to travel and after her husband’s retirement was fortunate to travel to many places, including taking the trans-Siberian Express and walking on the Great Wall of China. But most of all, she loved her family. She was always the homeroom mother, the chaperone on school trips, and the maker of costumes for every occasion. She was so proud of all her children and saw to it that they all had the opportunity – and the encouragement – to finish college. Lea was never happier than when surrounded by family members at Christmas. She served as the switchboard of a large extended family, always ready to share the latest news of not only her children, but also her siblings and her many nieces and nephews. She loved organizing social events of all kinds – from neighborhood picnics to gourmet dinners to bridge parties – but nothing gave her greater pleasure than organizing family reunions.

Her beloved husband of 54 years, Glenn Ferris, preceded her in death in 2005. She is survived by four children: Elizabeth Ferris (Washington, DC); Mary Ferris (Galveston), Bill Ferris and his wife Marsha Donaldson (Seattle, Washington); and Anne Self (Beaumont); by five grandchildren: Jon Ferris and his wife Tina Hinh (Arlington, VA); Sara Kappler and her husband Thomas Kappler (Zurich, Switzerland); Bill Self (Beaumont); Laura Self (Conroe,TX), and Doug Smith and his wife Amy (Seattle) and by three great-grandchildren: Adele and Stella Ferris, and Georgia Smith.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Brazos Valley Food Bank, http://www.bvfb.org/donate.html
A graveside service is set for 11 a.m. Friday, March 21, 2014 at the College Station Cemetery. There will be no visitation prior to the interment.

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