William Earl "Bill" Ferguson

Mr. William Earl "Bill" Ferguson age 83, of Starke passed away at Shands UF in Gainesville, Saturday June 11, 2016 following a brief illness. He was born on April 11, 1933 to the late Robert and Ollie (Moore) Ferguson and was raised in Bolivar, TN where he attended school. While growing up, he worked on the family farm logging trees by horse and cart along with tending to the crops of corn and cotton fields. At the age of 18, Mr. Ferguson joined the United States Navy and served during the Korean War. He met his wife Juanita in Green Cove Springs and married her in 1955 and moved back to Bolivar, TN, and in 1956 they made Starke their home. Even though it was hard finding work, Mr. Ferguson worked for a while at the sewing factory (Cadillac in Starke). He then started his career as a Correctional Officer in the Florida State Prison, and retired as Sergeant in 1990 after 32 years of dedicated service. He was a member of the American Legion Post in Starke, and enjoyed working on his farm, growing vegetable gardens, but his passion was tending to his cattle. Mr. Ferguson was known as a caring man; he helped to take care of his wifes grandmother for 15 years when she was no longer able to take care of herself. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Joe, George, and Oneil Ferguson and sister, Louise Colley. Survivors are his wife of 60 years, Grace Juanita (Browning) and their four children, Mary Jane Henderson of Starke, Charles Ferguson (Kelly) of Arlington, WA, Marie Reddish (Buddy) of Keystone Heights and Wayne Ferguson (Janet) of Lake Butler; one brother, Edward Ferguson of Covington, TN, and one sister, Lila Mae Sanders of Birmingham, AL. Also left behind are eleven grandchildren, Marona Newman, Barona Henderson, Connie Sims, Tifany Richardson (Joe), Fiona Ferguson, Angie Glenn (Mike), Shawn Reddish, Chad Reddish (Melissa), Stacie Reddish, Collin Reddish and Jason Pons (Vicky); twelve great grandchildren, Jade Newman, Diamond Newman, Mike Newman, Ethan Sims, Mason Richardson, Rosie, Clayton, Alex, and Alyssa Reddish, Jacob Woriax, Aurora Castell, Easton Reddish, and one great grandchild, Dakota Newman. Funeral services for Mr. Ferguson will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 18, 2016 in the De Witt C. Jones Chapel. The family will begin receiving friends at 9:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Sapp Cemetery. Arrangements are by JONES-GALLAGHER FUNERAL HOME, 620 E. Nona St., Starke, FL (904)964-6200. www.jonesgallagherfh.com Cemetery Sapp Cemetery NE 233rd Lane Raiford FL 32083 US Visitation Saturday, June 18, 2016 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM DeWitt C. Jones Chapel 620 Nona Street Starke FL 32091 US Funeral Service Saturday, June 18, 2016 10:00 AM - DeWitt C. Jones Chapel 620 Nona Street Starke FL 32091 US Funeral Home Jones - Gallagher Funeral Home - Starke 620 E. Nona Street Starke FL - 32091 US (904) 964-6200