Phyllis Claire Ferguson

1948 - 2024

Phyllis Claire Ferguson

Phyllis Claire Ferguson (nee Huckaba) was born on June 5th, 1948, in Lawrenceburg Tennessee and passed on September 8, 2024.

She moved with her family to Toledo in the early 1950s. She graduated from DeVilbiss High School in 1965, and attended Michigan Christian College where she met her future husband, Daniel Ferguson. Dan and Phyllis moved several times before returning to settle in Toledo in 1980. They had five children between 1970 and 1990, and adopted five more during the 90s and aughts. They were foster parents to many more children over the years as well.

Phyllis was a life-long animal lover and owner of many pets. She worked as a manager and pet groomer at Sander's Tropics in Perrysburg, and fostered small dogs in her final years through Toledo Animal Rescue. She was a voracious reader and loved art, movies, and being a friend and voice to the marginalized, suffering, and voiceless.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Daniel; and is survived by brothers, Tom (Sue), Harlan (Linda), and Phil (Patti) Huckaba; by children, Lydia (Jeff) Horvath, Ben (Patrick) Ferguson, Tabitha (Jeff) Thibert, Phillip Jesse (Mo) Ferguson, Nathan (Sleep) Ferguson, Kim (Shane) Ferguson, Rolizia Sutherland, Kenny Ferguson, Josh Ferguson, and Emmanuel Ferguson; and by grandchildren, Em, Raymond, Bryan, Ryan, Gabe, Arrianna, Taylor, Frederick, Alistair, and Bentley, and great-grandchild, Isabelle. She was a mother and grandmother figure to so many others.

A memorial service will be held at the First Unitarian Church of Toledo, 3205 Glendale, on Sunday, November 3rd at 1:30 a.m. Donations in her honor in lieu of flowers may be made to CASA, Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and Toledo Animal Rescue. "The true purpose of life, no matter who is in control, is to love whoever is around to be loved." – Kurt Vonnegut