Ray Ferguson

Ray Edward Ferguson, 72, died Jan. 20, 2009, at Maniilaq Health Center in Kotzebue.
A funeral was Jan. 24 at the Kotzebue Friends Church, with Johnny Snyder and Wilfred Lane Sr. officiating. Burial took place at Cemetery Hill in Kotzebue.
Ray Edward Ferguson was born May 16, 1936, to Minnie and Warren Ferguson in Kotzebue. He and his two brothers, Donald and Frank, were eventually adopted by his iconic pilot uncle Archie and aunt Hadley Ferguson. Ray learned to fly when he was 14. He became a renowned pilot in the Northwest Arctic region, where he mastered flying in all manner of arctic weather.
Ray was also a storekeeper and helped run the family theater and hotel. He was an inventor and avid miner in Kobuk, raced snowmachines, and loved camping near the Kobuk Sand Dunes with his family.
Over the course of his flying career, Ray flew for Wien Air and Safair Flying Service. In the late '70s, Ray and his wife, Margaret, started Kotzebue Flying Service. His relationships with pilots who flew for him, particularly Russ White, Gary Bakewell and Tom Lehe, were ones he cherished for the rest of his life.
Ray served the people of the region tirelessly by performing countless searches through the Civil Air Patrol and Kotzebue Search and Rescue. He was also a charter member of the Kotzebue Lion's Club, where he loved to dance.
Ray is survived by his sister, Ruth Schaeffer; brothers, Ira Ferguson, Jimmy Gregg and John Schaeffer; sisters-in-law, Carrie Ferguson, Sophie Ferguson, Aggie Gregg and Mary Schaeffer; and son-in-law, Ronald Kanayurak. He is also survived by daughters, Hadley Hess, D'Anne Hamilton and Juanita Ferguson; and daughters and sons-in law, Kelley and Scott DuFour and Sadie and Claude Wilson Jr. He is also survived by many grandchildren, nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Arlene Kanayurak; infant son, Einar Ferguson; brothers, Donald and Sen. Frank R. Ferguson; sister, Mary Moore; brother-in-law, Tony Schaeffer; niece, Glenda Ferguson; and nephews, Sean and Rodney Schaeffer.
Friends who would like to send condolences may mail them to Sadie Ferguson, Box 747, Kotzebue, AK 99752.