Merrilee Ruth Ferguson

Merrilee Ruth Ferguson, 76, passed away November 26, 2025 at Legacy Meridian Park Hospital in Tualatin, Oregon. She was born on December 13, 1948, in Carrington, North Dakota, to Les and Mildred Ferguson, where she loved growing up on the farm with her two brothers, many animals and her beloved horse.

Merrilee began her schooling in North Dakota, at Rose Hill, a one-room country school, then to Glenfield, ND for three years. The family moved to Woodburn, Oregon in 1960. She graduated from Woodburn High in 1966 and from Mount Angel College in 1970.

After graduation, she began her work life with the Woodburn police department as a dispatcher. In 1974, she then went to work for the State of Oregon/Clackamas County as an Eligibility Specialist where she developed life-long friendships with her co-workers. She was affectionately known as Grumpy, a title she absolutely relished. She retired in 2006.

Merrilee enjoyed traveling, especially on her many trips to Hawaii, kayaking, rafting down the Colorado, and making her wonderful baskets of homemade Christmas candies for friends and family. And when a friend would call and ask, "Hey, do you want to..." Merrilee always responded with an enthusiastic, "yes!"

She was a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church of Woodburn, serving as an Elder, and later the Hubbard Community Church where she helped seeing to the needs of many of her fellow parishioners.

Merrilee was beset with MS early in life, but refused to let it slow her down. It wasn’t until the last few years that it finally took its toll on her body and kept her from pursuing many of the activities she enjoyed so much. Her wacky sense of humor and the great support from her wonderful friends helped make transitions easier for her as her life changed.

She is survived by her brothers: John of Moses Lake, Washington, and his wife Linda; and Kevin of Sun Lakes, Arizona, and his wife Cathy. She is also survived by her nieces Lori and Michelle, her nephews Brian and Steven, and that rowdy, fun-loving group of co-conspirators: Trish, Carol, Annette, Sue and cousin Kathy.

She was preceded in death by her parents, nephew Sean Ferguson, and her spoiled-rotten cat, Kiddles. At her request, friends and family will gather aboard a chartered boat out of Depoe Bay in July, to spread her ashes.