Patrick Ronald Ferguson

Patrick Ronald Ferguson

July 2, 1939 - May 1, 2024

Patrick Ronald Ferguson Ronnie, age 84, of Yuma, Arizona, passed away May 1, 2024 at Yuma Regional Medical Center. Patrick was born on July 2,1939, the youngest of five children to his parents Frank and Beatrice Ferguson, settlers and first generation farmers in North Gila Valley. He grew up working on the farm.

Patrick graduated from Yuma High School in 1957 and then from Arizona State College (now NAU) in 1961 with a bachelor's degree in Biology, and minors in Earth Science and Social Sciences. He met his future bride at Arizona State College, Natalie Elizabeth Brown, and they married in 1962, then had three children (Karen Marie, Patrick Ronald Jr., Teresa Lynn).

Patrick continued at Arizona State College (NAU) and gained his masters degree in the Teaching of Biology and minor in Education in 1964, and desired to return to Yuma to teach. No teaching positions were available at the time. He took his first teaching job in Ajo Arizona in 1964, where he taught Driver's Education for one year, then General Science and Life Science the next year. In 1966, an opening was available in Yuma, so he returned to his hometown and began teaching at Yuma High School. For 19 years, he taught General Science, Biology, Honors Biology, Ecology, Field Biology and Desert Biology. He especially enjoyed teaching his honors biology classes. In his last two years at Yuma High, Patrick taught Government and Free Enterprise, then retired from teaching after 20 years.

In addition to teaching, Patrick was a farmer in North Gila, putting time into farming after school and on the weekends. He farmed various crops from 1966 to 1973, then in 1973, he planted lemon trees, which he tended for the next 30 years.

Patrick was an avid hunter and fisher, and enjoyed many hunting and fishing adventures with his family and friends. He bagged a big horn sheep, a buffalo, and countless other game animals and birds. Patrick enjoyed deep sea fishing out of San Diego, California and would go 1 to 2 times each year for many years. Patrick was an active lifetime member of the Yuma Rod and Gun Club. He was also a lifetime member of the Yuma Masonic Lodge No. 17.

Patrick was preceded by his parents, Frank and Beatrice; his brothers, Frank Junior (Specks), James, A.W. (Swede); and sister, Mae.

Patrick is survived by his wife of 61 years Natalie; children, Karen, Patrick (former wife Anne) & Teresa (Duane Bosley); grandchildren, Jessica Houpe, Andrew Ferguson, Olivia Ferguson, Bryan Bosley, Brett Bosley; nephews and nieces, Frank Ferguson III, Steve Ferguson, Preston Munn, Donny Crump (deceased), Jerry Crump, Nora Abernathy, Diane Ferguson, Larry Ferguson, Stephen Brown, Deborah Brown; and great nephews and nieces, James Ferguson, Justin Ferguson, Jason Ferguson, Shane Crump, Kody Crump, Sarah Crump, Frank Ferguson IV, Leslie Ferguson, Andy Ferguson, Lance Ferguson, Pam Ferguson.

A memorial service will be held at Johnson's Mortuary on June 8th at 10:00 am.

Please sign the guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/yumasun