My Brother

My brother was born in Rush Springs, Okla. on March 19, 1932. he died on August 7, 1998.  For no reason other than what I was told, I have always thought he was 6 years older.  There are a lot of reasons why, none of which make any since.  More likely than any other is the fact that I started the seventh grade the same year he graduated from high school.  As long as he was at home we shared the same room. Of course my sister had her own room.  Even today I am still finding out new things about Paul Edward Ferguson. I intend to be very careful what I say because he is no longer here to defend himself.

Sometime after we moved to Britton and before he left to go into the Air Force, (he was the only member of our family in three generations who served in the military). I remember taking a hammer and stopping him from ever bulling me again.  It must have worked because two things happened that day.  My dad took away the hammer before I could hit him more than once, and from then on he never came close to me again.

When he graduated from high school, he was already working at the service station where dad bought his gas, tires etc.. (a Mobil station in Britton, the first of many operated by Ralph Thein ). Sometime shortly after he graduated he started to work for O.G. & E. as a lineman. Nothing lasted very long and eventually he went into the Air Force. After boot camp, the Air Force stationed him in Myrtle Beach, S.C. for the rest of the time he served. Once a year, he would grace us for a day or so.  He rode a motor cycle once and drove a car on another of his journeys.

His first marriage was to Jessie Marie Pierce. I don't have any record of when they were married or divorced. but after 4 children, they were divorced.  I can only guess why (something to do with keeping your privates in your pants).  His ex-wife and their youngest child came to live with us in the upstairs bedroom for a short time when we lived at 1504 Oxford Way. Some of my irrational anger with Jessie may have started then.  We took her in and provided for both her and Stephanie for as long as they needed us.and my parents took in the three older kids.  I think that I not only suggested that she was more than just capable I tried to teach her how.

Sometime after they separated Paul moved to Omaha, Neb where my sister was already living.  At one time he drove a cab.  Sometime later he moved to Denver, Col.