Category Archives: Dad

Fergie – Eulogy

Fergie – Eulogy
By Diane Goss
May 23, 2015
James Ferguson We are here to celebrate the life of Jim Ferguson, better known to us as “Ferg.” He was a great friend, husband and father and grandfather and will be sorely missed. I wanted to share a few examples of what his life meant, and how he made the world a little bit better for me and so many others around him.

My name is Diane, and I’ve had the pleasure of being a close family friend since 1968.

Ferg had a very colourful career, first as a paratrooper in the Korean War, and then as the Deputy Warden of Oakalla’s womens prison.

I first met Ferg and Louise through my then-husband Roy, who was coaching Scott in Little League. I learned very early on the strength of Ferg’s character when I found out he not only lived with his immediate family, but also his Mother-in-law, and sister-in-law in great harmony.

Roy and Ferg shared a lifetime love of golf and Ferg’s many championships were followed, later in life, with his helping others as an informal pro at the driving range on the Island. Ferg also was a cheerleader for all the sports Scott and Jaye played.

Soon after we met, they gave us a calendar on which every Friday night was highlighted as ‘Hamburger and Wine Night’ at their place, for us and our friends.

When Roy and I married, Jaye was our darling flower girl. Ferg and Louise were living on Butler Street in South Vancouver at that time and one story was of Scott and Jaye breaking the large front window with a soccer ball.
I said, “At least they were playing outside.”
“No,” Fergie replied. “It was broken from the inside.”

Did Ferg allow the kids to have pets? You would think a dog or cat perhaps?
NO they had 2 ducks named Sam and Sally. They were quite the talk of the neighbourhood! My apologies to Rags, I felt he was more of a guard dog than pet!

After an early retirement, Ferg and Louise packed up the kids and moved to Oyster River. They built a beautiful and welcoming home and farm where friends, family, cows, pigs and chickens gathered for great times. The farmhouse was the site of much love and laughter as well as heated discussions. Ferg was well-read and loved to debate sports
and politics, all with good humour. Some of the best times were on the river, jumping off ropes under the bridge, and inner tubing down the Oyster.
Ferg even built Jaye her own house on the farm—beat that for a Dad !
The farm helped keep Ferg and Louise young, as anyone would know if they’d seen them in their later years, using chainsaws and trimming tools to prune their Christmas trees. For many years, they grew the trees under nearby power lines which they supplied to
happy repeat customers. A special feature of the farm was Ferg’s beloved greenhouses. In the greenhouses he built wood stoves to cheat winter and extend the growing season. What happened to all that produce? He sold many of his tomatoes and other vegetables but it’s rumoured that he also gave away as much as he sold. That was Ferg for you.

This sense of giving extended to the many charities he and Louise supported. One of Ferg’s pet projects was the Cumberland Youth Band. Did the band appreciate it?
Yes, most certainly! One day, a yellow school bus pulled up in front of their home on Mill
Street, and out poured the entire band who then gave an impromptu concert, just for Ferg and Louise.
Ferg also would take large chocolate bars to the tellers at his bank, He would say they never get any thanks. So Sweet of him.
His morning routine would be taking Louise in the car and drive to “The Love Bug” where he would get coffee for himself and Louise to take home. I asked him once when we were over there if he was going to get coffee—Oh yes he said, they would wonder what
happened if I didn’t show up. This was very evident one day after Ferg passed, Jaye for the first time dropped in to the love bug, introduced herself and found just how much they did miss Ferg,,His obitiuary was posted on the fridge in their shop and the owner cried when telling Jaye what a great man her Dad was.

Going back to Ferg’s love of politics. I like to think I made my personal contribution to the political debate, one time when my friends Heidi, Linda and I tried to upset Ferg’s love
affair with Christie Clark and the Liberal party. We went to the local NDP office, gave a false name and address, and took possession of a large NDP supporter sign and installed it on his front lawn on Mill Street.
Imagine the shock on his face!

And what about those kids? He loved Scott and Jaye deeply and often told me how proud he was of both of them and their families and the great choices they’d made in their lives. Ferg said they were so fortunate to have so many grandchildren and great grandchildren, and he loved them all. Jesse, being the first grandson spent many of
his early years with Grandma and Grandpa to their delight.

Jaye, living so close to Ferg, on Mill Street was a comfort to him and Louise, and even more so to Ferg, after the passing of the love of his life.

Jaye recently told me of how Ferg was very critical of her boyfriends,
however when she met Gerry all that changed—- so she married him.
So many good times.

I really miss Ferg and Louise,
Wonderful,loving and giving friends.

When Louise became less able to care for herself, Ferg became a champion caregiver and catered to her every wish with such love and devotion.

After Louise passed on, Ferg was never the same, he really missed his best friend.

Although we miss him, Ferg leaves a little bit of himself behind in each of us. He’s there as long as we smile or sigh or laugh about something he said or did. And in his long life, he said and did a lot.

I know in my heart Ferg and Louise are now together again.

Please raise your glasses to the memory of Ferg one of the greatest men I have known.

Grandpa
by Jesse Ferguson

Grampa
It seems too recently that we were all gathered here to mourn the loss of Gramma Lou. And yet here we are again mourning the loss of Grampa Ferg. Yet, Its time like these that as you age make you reflect on what the truly important things are in life, and who the truly important people and influences are that have shaped the person you’ve become, and the person you hope to be. 
When Gramma left us, the world became a little less bright, and for Grampa Ferg who lost his wife and companion of over 50 years……well..
Grampa was and will always be the kind of man that other men strive to be. Provider, father, imparter of wisdom, athlete, and foremost..a golfer.
Grampa wasn’t without his faults though, anyone who encourages chopping and cutting and driving to pre kindergarten aged kids surely has to be second guessed. 
For years he renegotiated Canadian politics from his chair in the kitchen on Fergie’s farm..well, at least to the locals anyways.
He loved surrounding himself with his kids and grandchildren, great grandchildren, friends and neighbours, or anyone who just needed a place to go and get food and advice..the more the merrier in his eyes..
With the passing of both of them, their loop is now closed, but not forgotten, it’ll be joined by all of our loops as they’re made, forever linking their memories to ours.