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Submitted: 5/13/20 • Approved: 5/14/20 • Last Updated: 5/17/20 • R312960-G0-S3
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS US Army
World War II
June 24, 1920 - December 15, 2007
Services for Stephen Douglas Ferrill, 87, of Temple will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at the First Christian Church of Temple. Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday evening at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home of Temple. Officiating will be Dr. Jerry Kirkpatrick and Rev. Clyde E. Nichols. Cindy Kirby, daughter, and Melissa Curtis, granddaughter, will provide the music.
Mr. Ferrill was born in Box Church near Groesbeck, June 24, 1920. He graduated from Groesbeck High School in 1937 at the age of 16 and earned a Bachelors and Masters Degree from North Texas State Teachers College. He completed post graduate studies and courses at Southern Methodist University, North Texas, Baylor, and the University of Texas at Austin. He received two National Science Scholarships, the first to North Texas and the second to the University of Texas.
In 1949, he married Ruth Jackson, who preceded him in death in 1992. He married Marjorie Schwertner on January 2, 1994. After 14 years of marriage, Marjorie states, "He was a perfect gentleman, my best friend, a romantic, and ideal companion that resulted in a beautiful life together."
His service with the U.S. Army during World War II included two years in Iceland as a pharmacist and manager of the Post Exchange and later as an ambulance driver in England and France. He was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in a bombing raid while on duty in Paris, France.
Mr. Ferrill began his college career majoring in agriculture. He soon realized that his future was in teaching. He began his teaching career in 1940 at age 20 as an elementary teacher, taught mathematics at Temple High School for 12 years, and retired as Dean of Continuing Education and Evening School at Temple Junior College. He completed 36 years in education.
Temple Kiwanis club recognized Mr. Ferrill as the "Educator of the Year" in 1989. Temple High School Class of 1957 dedicated the school annual "The Cotton Blossom" to him. Also, the 1968 "Templar" was dedicated to Mr. Ferrill. He was recognized in the 1970 edition of Outstanding Educators of America for his contributions to the advancement of education and service to community, state, and country. Mr. Ferrill was also commissioned by the governor as a Texas Colonel. He was recognized by the Piper Foundation as an outstanding Texas educator.
In December 2003, Temple College named the Douglas Ferrill Computer-Aided Math Lab in his honor. Mr. Ferrill's gifts enabled the Temple College Foundation to create one of the most technology advanced computer aided classrooms in central Texas. Mr. Ferrill stated on many occasions throughout his career and often when honored publicly, "I would rather be thought of as a teacher than any thing else. I cannot think of any other career that would have been more enjoyable are provide more opportunities to meet people." "I enjoyed my years of teaching as well as filling the role of student. To me, life is continuing education, and we never stop learning. The greatest reward and a humbling experience for a teacher are to have your students succeed in their fields and thank you for the impact you have had on their lives and careers."
He was a long standing member of the First Christian Church in Temple where he served as Sunday School teacher, board member, and on numerous committees. He was a member of Texas and TemBel Retired Teachers Associations.
He greatly enjoyed national and international travel, golf, fishing, reading, and a challenging game of 42 or dominoes with his friends.
Survivors are his wife; three children, Kay Psencik of Houston, Ray Schwertner of Garland, and Cindy Kirby of Temple. Mr. Ferrill is also survived by 8 grandchildren, Melissa Curtis, Russell Schwertner, Michael Kirby, Annette Jones, Brandon Schwertner, Natalie Nelson, Erin Psencik, and Cody Schwertner, 8 great grandchildren, and 2 nieces, Sandra Smith and Dorothy Dyer.
Pallbearers are grandsons, Michael Kirby, Russell Schwertner, Brandon Schwertner, and Cody Schwertner; and nephews, Dr. Thomas Eller II, Kelly Isbell, Bryan Dyer, Randy Smith, and Rodney Smith.
Honorary Pallbearers are R.L. Bulls, Joe Camp, Dean Clifford, H.C. Farrell, Murray Ham, Henry B. (Sonny) Hutka, Clarence Strange, and Cecil Wells.
Contributed on 5/13/20 by texasfindagraver
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Record #: 312960