Saturday morning dawned bright and sunny.
A look out the window showed that everything was calm. Peaceful. A gentle breeze fluttered through the tree branches.
But open the door or a window, and the heavy scent of smoke lingered in the air, reminding Lincoln County residents of the hellscape the county - and much of the state - had been less than 24 hours before.
One family in particular woke up Saturday morning completely changed.
The Fergusons are well known in the area, especially in the wrestling community.Allen had been a coach with the youth wrestling league for several years. His son,Will Conley, wrestles, as do his three brothers. The two share a love for history, specifically the Civil War. They would travel around Oklahoma and Arkansas, taking part in reenactments.
“Allen loved it,” said Bo Pryor, president of the wrestling booster club in Chandler.
“You had to be careful not to mention it to Allen, because he would yak your ear off,” his wife, Jennifer Pryor, added.
The couple said Allen was a fun guy - once you could get him to talk.
“He was all excited one year - it’s been a couple years ago - cause he was part of holding, and I believe he won, the first annual Bell Cow Lake Magnet fishing tournament. It was him and like two or three other people,” Bo said while laughing.
Allen Ferguson passed away at 7:07 on Saturday morning, succumbing to injuries incurred after rescuing Will when they got caught in the fires on Friday. They were checking on a family member and their four-wheeler wrecked. Allen carried Will to the road, where they were eventually found.
“My husband will always be my hero. He has been a great dad and a great husband. I’m lost without my rock holding me strong,” his wife Deborah said. “Allen gave so many amazing morals to his boys that I am so happy that I will get to see that in them for many days, months and years to come.”
Will continues to fight in the hospital. Two-thirds of his body is covered in second and third-degree burns. Doctors are hoping he’ll only lose from the wrist down on his left hand and all his fingers on his right. On Monday, he underwent a skin graft on his back, pulling through with flying colors.
“Will is still fighting. Every day that he is still here with me is another day closer to recovery,” Deborah said. “We are facing so many hurdles and ups and downs, it’s hard to process everything that’s happening with my baby boy… But he has so many friends and family standing behind him that knows the real Will. That big heart of his will always shine bright, even in his darkest days.”
The wrestling community in Chandler and beyond has rallied together to help the family.Will faces a long road to recovery, along with mounting medical costs.As ofTuesday morning, a Go-FundMe started by Shane Earp, head of the youth wrestling program in town, has raised over $57,000 for the family. There’s also a donation account set up for them at BancFirst.
Will and Allen’s story has been shared by Kevin Ogle, Oklahoma Wrestling, Oklahoma Youth Wrestling, meteorologist Lacey Swope, and more.
Friends and family are hopeful that Will will pull through, commenting on his stubborn nature.
“He’s going to do what Will’s going to do, and he’s just stubborn, but if he puts his mind to something, he’s going to go do it,” Bo said. “And he’s going to do it amazingly,” Jennifer added.