Margaret M. Ferris, 99
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - Margaret Mary Ferris, 99, of North Adams died Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at the home her niece Michele Kirby and her husband, Robert, with whom she had resided for several months.
Born in Danbury, Conn., on Sept. 20, 1914, daughter of George and Sadie Matney Ferris, her family moved to North Adams when she was a young child and she attended local schools. She graduated in 1932 from Drury High School, where she played intramural sports and the violin with the school band.
She was privileged to play with the Williams College Symphony second chair on several occasions. Her family formed The Ferris Band in her younger years and played at several functions throughout the area.
After hairdressing school, Miss Ferris started her career at the Orchid Beauty Salon in 1935 under the supervision of Lottie Harriman. She purchased the salon in 1959 and operated it until her retirement in late 1990s, after more than 65 years. The salon still operates today under the same name.
She was a communicant of the former St. Francis of Assisi Church. She was a founding member and a vice president, secretary and sergeant of arms of the Lebanese American Social Club, and was a member of the Waubeeka Golf Links. She enjoyed playing the violin and piano, traveling and bowling. She was a member and past president of the Northern Berkshire Hairdressers Association and a member of the Massachusetts Hairdressers Association.
Her main focus in life was her family, with whom she loved spending time.
Besides her primary caregivers, the Kirbys and her niece Diane O'Brien, she leaves, many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews, and her sister-in-aw, Nellie Ferris.
The last of her immediate family, she was predeceased by her siblings Louis Ferris, Harry Ferris, Michael Ferris and Freeda Ferris, and her nephew Michael M. Ferris Jr.
FUNERAL NOTICE - A Liturgy of Christian Burial for Miss Ferris will be celebrated Saturday, May 31, at 11 from St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery.
Calling hours will be Saturday from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, Central Chapels, 74 Marshall St., North Adams. Flowers maybe sent or memorial donations in her memory maybe made to St. Jude Children's Hospital through the funeral home.