William Murray Ferguson

Our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend William Murray Ferguson went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on July 27, 2006. Bill was born in Philadelphia, PA, May 23, 1914 to Ethel Hollister Ferguson and Lewis Repp Ferguson. In 1929, when the family moved to Dallas, Bill attended Terrell Preparatory School from which he graduated in 1931. He then entered Rice Institute, graduating in 1935 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, and that same year married Charlotte Barkley whom he had met at Rice. Together, they enjoyed sixty-three years of a blessed, loving marriage and joyful life, of raising their daughters, entertaining friends, traveling, and ten happy years at Lakeway. Bill was a faithful member of St. John the Divine Episcopal Church for over sixty years, serving on the Vestry as Junior Warden and Scoutmaster of Troop 55. Until his recent illness, he looked forward to working every Wednesday afternoon for ten years with the Maintenance Guild. He enjoyed Thursday Colonneh Club luncheons and the camaraderie with long-time friends and others he came to know. Many years of friendships and golf at the Houston Country Club were a rich part of his life. Bill worked for Texas Electric Steel Casting Company for forty years before retiring in 1977 as Vice President, Sales Manager, and Director. He was also a founding partner of Specialty Sand Company and Textrude. A patient and gifted teacher, Bill shared his many interests with his daughters and grandchildren. His hobbies included birding, wood working, photography and playing the harmonica. He was predeceased by his parents, his brothers, Thomas Chapman Ferguson and James Hollister Ferguson, and his beloved wife, Charlotte. He is survived by his three daughters and their husbands and families: Nancy Elizabeth Ferguson Drushel and William Haley Drushel, Jr., Susan Barkley Ferguson Cook and John Loch Cook, and Carolyn Belvin Ferguson Means and Henry Furman Means, Jr.; and grandchildren: Haley Drushel Eichelberger and Glen Thomas Eichelberger, Ellen Barkley Drushel, William Loch Cook and Lisa Laughlin Cook, Robert Murray Cook and Kimberly Sipe Cook, Martha Woodmancy Means, and Henry Furman Means, III and Aline Leporati Means; and great-grand-children: John Christian Eichelberger, Carson Loch Cook, William Connor Cook, John Cameron Cook, Ann Claire Ferguson Cook, Robert Alexander Cook, Alison Barkley Cook, Charlotte Aline Means and Christopher Giordano Means. We are forever thankful to Yolanda Perales for her years of faithful friendship to us and special attention to both Mother and Daddy. He died peacefully at home surrounded by his family. We sincerely appreciate Dr. Robert A. Johnston, Jr. and Dr. Christopher Finnila for their medical care and special friendship and the help of Houston Hospice. Recently, Daddy was blessed by the loving care of Noemi Menedez and Laura Rivera. Bill had a full, rich and long life and blessed all who knew him with his gracious spirit, wise counsel and loving heart. His faith in Jesus Christ was firm to the end. We are thankful for this life of love, joy, and faithfulness to God, family, and friends. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Psalm 116:15 A memorial service celebrating Bill's life will be held at one o'clock in the afternoon on Monday, the 31st of July in the Chapel of St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 2450 River Oaks Blvd., Houston with The Rev. Nancy DeForest and The Rev. Robert Murray Cook officiating. The family will receive friends in the Parish Hall following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Colonneh Club Scholarship Fund Attn: Rice University, P.O. Box 1892 , MS-81 Houston, TX 77251-1892; St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 2450 River Oaks Blvd., Houston, TX 77019-5898 or Houston Hospice, 8811 Gaylord, Houston, TX 77024.