Laura Ferris was a remarkable women. Her husband, George, was a lawyer in Whitewater. When he died, she stayed on in their home on Main Street--near Esterly Avenue. Apparently, Laura didn't drive as she got older, but she was a great walker. When she was over 95 years old, she still walked to town for banking and shopping. For many years, she was a great benefactor to young women students (especially from Asia) at UWW. She provided room and board for many of the young women who lived in her home while they were students. At some point in her late 90's, Laura had to have a leg amputated, so she moved to Fairhaven on the nursing floor. She learned to walk with a walker and never seemed to let this get her down. When she was 102 years old, I visited her and asked her how it felt to be 102. Her response was great: "When I turned 100," she said, "I looked into the mirror and said to myself, 'Laura Ferris, you have never known anyone who was 100!' After that, I never thought about it again." It was on that visit that she recommended a book to me that I really had to read. Laura Ferris died in her 106th year. What an indomitable person she was!

Remembrances:

Many of the students lived with her rent-free! (Anonymous, May 23, 2007)