Eller, Mary Hay Ferguson

Mary Hay Ferguson was born in McKinney, Texas in 1884, the daughter of Mary Phillips Ferguson and John Hay Ferguson. As a young adult, Mary Ferguson held leadership positions in the North Texas Conference Epworth League. Her work on behalf of the League included founding the Ruby Kendrick Council of Missions. The Council of Missions promoted missionary vocations and raised money in support of Methodist missions in memory of Ruby Rachel Kendrick (1883-1908). Ruby Kendrick was a young woman from Plano, Texas who died in Korea after serving less than one year in the mission field.

In 1920 Mary Hay Ferguson married banker Horace P. Eller (1878-1965) of McKinney. The Ellers moved to Dallas and joined Grace Methodist Church. Mary Eller served as an officer in the Daughters of the American Revolution, Dallas Patriotic Association, Dallas Federation of Women’s Clubs, Dallas Woman’s Forum, and Women’s Chamber of Commerce. In Dallas, H. P. Eller became a successful banker, attorney, and real estate broker.

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