Boyd Mcdougal Ferguson

passed away at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle on August 26, 2009. Despite a quick and excellent emergency response by family and Bainbridge Island Fire and Police Departments, Boyd died after suffering cardiac arrest. He was 87 years old and pleased with his full and active life. He loved his country, his family and Glenn Miller music. "Fergy" was the third son of Robert and Helen Ferguson. He was born in Lexington, Missouri on July 8, 1922. Brothers Robert and Richard preceded him in death. Because of the proximity of his birthday to Independence Day, he usually celebrated with an arsenal of fireworks (mostly legal). He often spoke of having grown up in the depression with everyone pitching in doing chores and living frugally to keep the family going during hard times. He graduated from High School in Grand Island, Nebraska in June of 1942. Fergy served in the military from 1943-1948, and was honorably discharged as a corporal in the US Army Air Corp. Always a patriot; he flew his American flag daily. A bit of an artist and a partier, Fergy graduated from the University of Colorado on the GI Bill, with a degree in Fine Arts. He met his wife La Verne I. "Bernie" Long at a Halloween party and they married after her graduation in 1948. (Fergy took a little longer to get through school than Bernie did). Some of the best times for Bernie and Fergy were while working in Rangely, Colorado; he as a roughneck on an oil rig, and she as a property manager. Their son, Larry was born in Rangely. Daughter, Dede came along seven years later while Fergy was working his way up the corporate ladder as a personnel administrator for Dow Chemical and later as a personnel manager for Swinerton and Walberg Construction Company. The family enjoyed many years in a house that Fergy and Bernie designed in Boulder, Colorado - Home! They participated in church, scouting and civic activities. Retirement on the Columbia River at Cathlamet, Washington was secure and pleasant. Fergy loved the river, for it reminded him of his early days on the Missouri River like Mark Twain. Fergy liked poetry, parades, Pall Malls, photography and pretty girls. He is survived by his beloved wife La Verne "Bernie" Ferguson of Bainbridge Island, Washington, his younger sister Helen Harper of Prairie Village, KS, children; Dede Shorett and her husband Peter of Bainbridge Island and son Larry Ferguson of Sebastopol, California. He also leaves behind his grandchildren; Jennifer Ferguson and Carl and Brooke Shorett. They will all miss him dearly. In lieu of a funeral or memorial service Fergy asked that all who knew him extend a "remembrance blessing" in their own way. A private family gathering will be held later in Boulder, Colorado where his cremains will be interred. He lived a long life with few regrets. Fergy will be missed by all who knew him. Arrangements entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home on Bainbridge Island, WA.