Obituary for William John "Bill" Ferguson

Order Flowers

Life Story for William John "Bill" Ferguson

Gramps, you were a great husband, father, grandfather, and most important ... a great person.
You taught me about work ethic, whether is was taking off the honey, cleaning the chicken coop, cutting grass (damn those were some big hills in Newport) or cutting wood in the winter.
I have so many fond memories of my youth spent with you and grandma. Fishing, camping, cycling, going for long walks looking for beer bottles. Letting me ride around on your fancy new lawn mower over and over from your place up around the old school and back again. Between that and going in circles in the motor boat for hours on end, I’m not sure how we grand kids didn’t put in into the poor house with all the gasoline you had to buy.
My friends have memories of you as well. They weren’t so fond of your tireless work effort, however. I can remember them driving up to the farm during the summer and if they saw your car, they would just go around the circle and back down on to the road and leave. When I would ask them why, they would say: “If we stayed, your grandfather would just put us to work”
There was also the time that you and grandma let me and my friends camp at your place after getting kicked out of a campground the night before because we were too loud. You took us water skiing and my big friend Tim was too heavy. Every time you gunned the boat, the, rope would snap.
You led a very interesting, amazing life, Gramps. If I can accomplish half the things you did, I will be a lucky man.
My only regret is that I could never talk you into joining me on the golf course. I know, a big waste of money. Oh well, I will never learn. Although, later in life, you actually aided in my golf habit by letting my use your Caddie whenever I needed to when I visited you and gram in Florida. See, you were just a big softy.
Love you, Gramps.