James Glase Ferguson Sr.'s Obituary
James Glase Ferguson Sr., after seven months of hospitalizations, entered everlasting rest late Friday night. He was seventy-nine years old.
Born on June 13, 1943, Jim entered the world by Caesarean, delivered by the skilled surgical hands of his father Dr. Robert Donald Ferguson Sr.
“Jimmy” was the youngest of Dr. Robert Donald Ferguson Sr. and Cora Louise Lockwood Ferguson’s four children. He was preceded into eternal rest by his parents, his sisters Deborah (Bobbie) Lockwood Ferguson Costello, and Marcia Louise (Sis) Ferguson Brown, and brother Robert Donald (Sonny) Ferguson Jr.
Jim leaves behind his cherished wife, Barbara Ann Koon Ferguson, son James Glase Ferguson Jr., daughter-in-law Heather Hitchcock, daughter Heather Ann Ferguson Green, son-in-law Jeffrey Green, and grandson Benjamin Ferguson Green.
Jim's affectionate and genial disposition endeared him to Barbara's family, in addition to cousins, nieces and nephews upon whom his fine character has been indelibly impressed.
Jim was a knowledgeable man, always eager to understand the world around him, and share what he had learned.
In 1953 his widowed mother sold their 5th street Ocala home, moving to their weekend house on Lake Kerr to live full-time. Jimmy’s early education was at Holy Trinity Catholic School, and in later life he would fondly recall both the loving and supportive Sister Maria, as well as the stern “she struck my hands with a ruler for excessive talking” Sister Theresa.
Jim later attended the very small Ft. McCoy Public School, receiving the sort of personalized education obtainable in a High School graduating class of seven.
Attending this small school, and growing up surrounded by the Ocala National Forest, Jim developed a strong self-reliance, and a curiosity-fueled constant learning, that endured throughout his life.
While Jim was in the electronics program at Central Florida Junior College, he met Barbara Ann Koon. She declined his first invitation to water skiing the following Sunday, but later reconsidered and accepted on the condition he pick her up after church.
Jim and Barbara continued their educations at the University of South Florida, and after their 1965 marriage, resided in Mango for 7 years.
In Tampa, Jim worked for General Telephone Company as an Engineer, and was assigned to MacDill Air Force Base to help with projects during the Cuban Missile Crisis and Viet Nam War. During this time, he began his amateur (ham) radio hobby, developing many lasting friendships with his fellow hams.
Also, during this time, Jim's two children were born, but more importantly, he killed perhaps the largest coral snake ever killed in the State of Florida (or at least within a quarter-inch of the record.)
Jim became a Microwave and RF Engineer for Florida Telephone in Leesburg, where he was hired to create special phone communication for Disney World to Disney offices in California.
He bought property on a dirt road in Lady Lake, which at the time only had a Post Office and a convenience store. Here he settled down, content to spend the rest of his days.
When Jim’s job moved to Altamonte Springs, and later to Lake Mary, he chose a daily commute rather than moving from his rural oasis. This also kept him near his beloved and esteemed mother-in-law Pearl Shepherd, and dependable and wise father-in-law, Ben.
Learning and evolving along with changes to the telecommunications industry, Jim helped design and engineer the emerging technology of cellular telephone systems. Later, the expertise he developed was much in demand, leading to many consulting jobs with Bell Atlantic and others. Jim’s work took him around the world, lending his skills to projects in Japan, China, South Korea, Ireland, Norway, Italy and Australia (and many others.) He enjoyed the friendships he made as he experienced new parts of the world. Sometimes Barbara travelled with him, and he always brought home lovely gifts and interesting, detailed stories.
Jim passed away in the home he built and maintained with Barbara for 50 years.
Here, he always had a project. Whether it was growing vegetables, readying his boat for a fishing trip, soldering circuit boards, observing nature, clearing encroaching forest from around the house, or reading a non-fiction book, his useful hands and mind were always busy, always eager to learn, and do more.
Jim was born in Ocala, into a family of Marion County pioneers, who came to the area in 1823. Learning about the challenges and accomplishments of his forefathers, and how they helped build his community and State, was a source of endless interest and pride. He was especially interested in his Ferguson ancestry, and in 2018 visited the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.
In his youth, Jim attended Grace Episcopal Church, was active in his local Scout Troop, and spent any remaining time in the lake or the woods, swimming, boating, exploring, hunting and fishing. Like his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather Ferguson, Jim was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason.
A memorial service is planned for Thursday, August 25, 2022 in the chapel of Banks/Page-Theus Funeral Home in Wildwood, FL. The family will receive visitors from 1-2 PM. Jim’s brother-in-law, retired Reverend Larry Wells, will conduct the memorial service at Two O'clock. Jim's ashes will be interred in the Shiloh Cemetery in Fruitland Park, FL on a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Scottish Rite Foundation of Florida:
http://srfof.org/donate/
...or to Vitas Community Connection, https://vitascommunityconnection.org/ to provide financial assistance to VITAS hospice patients and families in need
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