Richard C. Ferguson, 64, of Winnie, died Wednesday, April 5, 2017. He was born July 4, 1952, in Winshire, to Mary Virginia McClelland and Richard Mueller.
Richard was adopted by James “Jim” Ferguson after Jim and Virginia married in the late 50s. At the time, the family owned Pine Tree Lodge and Richard was always busy around the place; mowing, doing errands, running trot lines on Taylor’s Bayou, cleaning and working around the place. Jim not only taught him a strong work ethic from an early age, but gave him a business mind and the value knowledge of a dollar along with many other skills which carried through his life and which he imparted to his children and grandson. Richard had a bait shop by the driveway of their home in LaBelle. There was almost nothing placed before him that he could not fix. He loved a challenge.
Richard loved to hunt on the ranches around the area with his friends and as was the tradition of the day, he and his friends would leave for school with their shotguns, get on the bus and turn the guns into the driver, and in the afternoon after school the bus driver would let them off at a familiar hunting spot and give them their guns and let them hunt. He had several hunting dogs which he trained. Black Girl was his very favorite and enjoyed hunting tirelessly by his side.
Richard was an active individual with a project always at hand. He was quick-witted and a jokester. He was always playing jokes on his family and friends. He loved to laugh and enjoy time with his family who will miss him so very deeply.
After he graduated from Hamshire-Fannett High School, he went to Caterpillar Diesel Mechanic School and there found a trade that would serve him well in his work career. He followed his Uncle Bobby McClelland to Utah to work for BJ Services and there met his soon to be wife and the mother of his children, Carla Hanson. They were married in the Baptist Church in Roosevelt, Utah. The company transferred the family to various places; Casper, WY; Grand Junction, CO; Elk City, OK; and back to Alice, TX; being District Manager in both Grand Junction and Alice.
He spent the last ten years of his life working on his place located on McBride Devillier Loop Road outside Stowell, TX, enjoying his cattle, horses and the things that brought him peace and contentment. He attended Oak Island Baptist Church with his aunt and uncle.
Survivors include daughters, Lisa Garner, of Jersey Village and Mary Ann Ferguson, of Mathis; son, Travis Ferguson, of New York City, New York; grandson, August Garner, of Jersey Village; uncle, Robert “Bobby” McClelland and his wife, Andrea, of Anahuac; niece, Renee Meguess Ferguson, of Labelle; and mother of his children, Carla Ferguson, of Mathis. Uncles: Vern Mueller from Winnie, Jr. Mueller of Fannett and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins in the Mueller family.
He was preceded in death by parents, adopted father; and sister, Lela Elaine Ezell.
A gathering of Mr. Ferguson’s family and friends will begin at 1:00 p.m. with his memorial service to follow at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 29, 2017, at Broussard’s Chapel, 134 West Buccaneer Drive, Winnie. A private committal was held at Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont.
