Ronald Ferguson
Jerseyville |
Ronald Gene Ferguson, 76, died at 1:49 p.m., Friday, February 6, 2015 at Jersey Community Hospital in Jerseyville, after a brief illness.
He was born in Jerseyville on Jan. 18, 1939, and was the second of four sons born to Lawrence Samuel & Bernice Mary (Mossman) Ferguson.
He attended St. Francis Xavier Catholic Grade School, and graduated in 1957 from Jersey Community High School, where he was a letterman for the Panther football and track teams, and was President of the Student Council.
He was employed as a journeyman machinist at Owens-Illinois Machine Shop in Godfrey, retiring as a machine repair foreman after 42 years of dedicated service.
He married the former Lela Mae Gross on Dec. 22, 1957 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Alton, and together they have shared 57 years and have been blessed with their four children.
Surviving are his wife, Lela Mae Ferguson of Jerseyville; four children & their spouses, Julie and William Christiansen of Jerseyville, Claude and Jennifer Ferguson of Jerseyville, Nancy & Kenneth Scott of Fieldon, Michael & Nancy Ferguson of Jerseyville; Nine Grandchildren, Zachary Allan Ferguson, Megan Lee Eilerman, Samantha Lee Ferguson, Michael Ryan Scott, Andrew Allen Scott, Nicole Dayle Scott, Kristi Danielle Allgood, Marcus Nathaniel Scott, and Kirby Gene Scott; two step grandchildren, Peggiann Murphy and Lori Christiansen; four great grandchildren, Owen Ferguson, Clara Eilerman, Logan Allgood, and Emmit Eilerman; and three brothers & sisters in law, Larry & Marjorie Ferguson of Alton, David & Kathleen Ferguson of Oxford, Ct., and Joseph & Terry Ferguson of Davenport, Fl.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his stepfather, Henry Heitzig.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville, where a prayer service will be read at 3:45 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Jerseyville, with Father William Hembrow, his grandson, Pastor Andrew Scott, and his brother, David Ferguson officiating.
Burial will be in the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Cemetery in Jerseyville, and Jerseyville American Legion Post 492 will conduct military rites in honor of his service with the U.S. Army.
In 2007, Ronald recieved a kidney transplant, and was eternally grateful to the unknown donor and his family, whom enabled Ron life to be extended. In honor of that gift, he has requested that any gifts be directed to the National Kidney Foundation, and can be given at the funeral home.
Crawford Funeral Home
