Vivian Madolyn (Baker) Ferrell
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Vivian Madolyn (Baker) Ferrell, 90, of Carbondale and formerly of Eldorado, Memphis, Tenn. and Little Rock, Ark., born March 25, 1918, in Raleigh, died Tuesday, July 29, 2008, at Ferrell Hospital in Eldorado.
Vivian graduated from Eldorado High School in 1935 and married her longtime sweetheart Carl B. Ferrell of Eldorado on April 9, 1939.
Vivian's professional career included numerous opportunities, including a key support position in Southern Illinois University-Carbondale administration during its tenure at Shryock Auditorium, ultimately retiring from the Little Rock V.A. Medical Center as a medical transcriptionist.
Vivian was passionate about learning, and actively worked to promote access to public education and opportunity for all citizens. She was active in civil rights, voter registration and education, political campaigns and other civic issues.
She was a devoted community volunteer and active in her church community throughout her life, including Westover Hills Presbyterian in Little Rock and First Presbyterian Church of Carbondale.
Vivian treasured her family as it grew through the years. She was a caring partner to Carl throughout their 69-year marriage, and a loving and inspirational mother to daughters Nancy and Renee. She warmly welcomed "sons" Greg Dillard and Michael Yde, and was a devoted grandmother to Logan and Lane. She deeply loved her siblings and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
Vivian pursued excellence in all she did, personally and professionally. She loved new experiences, new friends and travel. She also expressed her creativity as an accomplished seamstress, cook and enthusiastic hostess. She loved spending time in her gardens.
Vivian is survived by her husband, Carl B. Ferrell; daughters, Nancy Ferrell (Michael Yde) of Seattle, Wash. and Renee Ferrell Dillard (Greg Dillard) of Makanda; grandchildren, Logan and Lane Dillard, sisters Jewell Johnson of Evansville Ind. and Laura Burgard of Lake Worth Fla.; brother, John Emil Baker and sister-in-law Vivian D. Baker of Ocala, Fla.; sister-in-law, Gwendolyn Baker of Eldorado; and loving nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John C. and Maddie Baker of Raleigh, and by siblings Randall Baker, Von. L. Baker, Lillian Baker Moore, and Phoebe Elizabeth Baker.
A family memorial gathering was held in Eldorado. Vivian and Carl chose to make anatomical gifts to the SIU School of Medicine, with assistance and support provided by Colonial Terrace Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, a scholarship will be established to help Eldorado High School students attend the college of their choice. Memorials may be made to "Carl Ferrell FBO Vivian Ferrell Scholarship" and left with the family, or at the memorial service or c/o First Presbyterian in Carbondale or Colonial Terrace Funeral Home in Eldorado.