June Flora Ferguson

June Ferguson, age 97, died peacefully in her sleep at home on January 20, 2026. Born June Flora Swindell to the late Edwin and Edith Swindell of Worcester County, MA, June was the beloved wife of the late Robert H. Ferguson, loving mother of Harold, Colleen and Richard, cherished grandmother of Rachael, Samuel and Emily, great-grandmother of Eleanor, loving aunt, and friend to many.

June grew up in Barre, MA, earned a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics and Education from the University of Massachusetts, and taught in the Boston area until she and her sister Evelyn embarked upon a cross-country trip to California. June enjoyed dancing throughout her life. She met the man she would later marry at a Bay Area dance class. June and Robert Ferguson married in 1958, started their life together in Cordelia, then moved to Vacaville, Brisbane, Arroyo Grande and Yuba City before settling in Petaluma in 1970. June and Robert, with their three children, could be found polka dancing most Sunday afternoons at Little Switzerland, outside of Sonoma.

June Flora had a passion for flowers, which she loved to grow and arrange. In 2024, June celebrated 50 years of membership in the Petaluma Garden Club where she served as President in 1984-85. She was also a member of the Petaluma Area Pilots Association (PAPA), president of the local chapter of the International Toastmistress Club (ITC) and an officer for the Accordion Club of the Redwoods. June supported her husband in his astronomy interests and was an active member of the Sonoma County Astronomical Society (SCAS). She was founding Secretary of the Valley of the Moon Observatory Association (VMOA), which constructed and operates the Robert Ferguson Observatory (RFO) in Sugarloaf State Park. June was an active supporter of the observatory, with a shovel in her hands for groundbreaking in 1996. She contributed to observatory operations and encouraged observatory volunteers to the end of her life.

June moved to an independent living apartment in a senior community in her later years. She remained active arranging flowers for the community, assisting with the in-house library, and participating in the bookclub. The family thanks the residents and staff of Cogir Rohnert Park for providing such a welcoming community, and the staff at Sequoia Senior Solutions for delivering needed care during June's last days.

A celebration of June's life will be held Sunday, February 22, 2026, 2:00 - 4:00 pm at the Petaluma Woman’s Club.