Chet Ferguson

Chet Ferguson

One of the few nonagenarians born in Seattle, Chester H. Ferguson "Chet" died on July 22, 2012. He was born on March 18, 1920 in the Ravenna district. His family soon moved to Medford, OR where he grew up.

After graduating from Medford HS, he enlisted in the Army in Sept 1939 with a topographic engineering battalion. He landed in Normandy on D+11, supported the armies, and followed them through Europe to Fulda, Germany where he was headquartered on VE Day. He served a few months as the assistant major of Brussels before returning from overseas in Sept 1945. He completed his civil engineering education at Oregon State U. in 1949.

He admits to having had a very interesting and satisfactory career. The first ten years were spent in the construction industry, the next ten at Boeing, and the final fifteen as an industrial specialist with the Small Business Administration.

He and his wife Catherine married in Medford, OR in 1947, and have lived on Mercer Island since 1959, where they raised their 3 children. During their residence on Mercer Island they became founding members of the Congregational Church.

Chet was a charter member of the M.I. Probus Club and the M.I. Wranglers Club. He was also Director of the Seattle chapter of the Amer. Soc. of Civil Engineers, a member of the M.I. I-90 committee, and the Metro Transit Citizen Advisory Committee. He remained an avid golfer and bridge player into his 90's. Chet was well loved by his family and many friends, and will be deeply missed.

Chet is survived by his wife Catherine, sons Greg (Kathy) and Bob (Nancy), grandsons Jake and Mick, granddaughter Susanne, great grandchildren Shea and Jaida, sister Phoebe, brother Hugh and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his daughter Sue.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Aug 5th at 2 PM at the Mercer Island Congregational Church.