Gary Clarence Ferguson

Gary Clarence Ferguson graced this world on March 24, 1956, in Loma Linda, California. 

Gary spent his first years of school at Redlands Jr. Academy in California. He always talked about going to the beach with the youth groups, camping, and he loved playing first base in baseball. Gary took to playing the guitar at a young age which started his lifelong love of all genres of music.

Gary’s family, Mom Margery, Dad Ralph, and three younger brothers, Randy, Rob, and Mark moved to San Antonio, Texas to begin a family business. Gary was not happy about leaving his beloved California beach and Redlands School, but as fate would have it, he would find the Love of His Life in Texas.

Jefferson Academy in Jefferson, Texas held many happy memories for Gary’s junior and senior years of High School. He graduated in 1974, along with his best friend, David Thomas. The two, along with several other friends, managed to give the boys’ dean many sleepless nights. Gary and David remained great friends throughout their adult lives. While at Jefferson Academy, Gary met Cheri Robinson and they became High School Sweethearts. They were married in June 1977. The couple was a “My 3 Sons Family”- Geremy, Chad and Clint. When Chad announced, “You are going to be Grandparents!” The soon-to-be Grandma and Grandpa were extremely excited and proud. Those were high days for both Gary and Cheri. Now, Zayne is almost 18 and Lilian is 16. Big Papa was so proud of them and loved them both so much! 

For years, Gary worked for Legacy Campgrounds as a campground manager where he enjoyed the outdoors and working with the campers. More recently, he became their marketing and IT manager and spent more time in the office, programming and developing Call Centers. 

Gary had many interests, but probably HIS FAVORITE thing to do would be COOKING and BAKING for his family and friends! He loved to create - from cakes, cookies and fancy desserts to BBQs, birthday dinners, Thanksgiving spreads and Christmas Treats! He loved it all. The Bigger the Better! He was definitely an awesome CHEF. His granddaughter, Lilian, is following in his footsteps which pleased him tremendously. In fact, he had started working on a Family History Cookbook for her. The book tells our family story through the love of gathering together to eat good food… and the secret recipes that each person loved so much. It will be up to Hama Cheri and Lilian to finish the Cookbook now!  

Gary was always ‘Johnny-on-the-Spot’… he enjoyed using his talent for baking whenever he was needed for church or for school. If Debbie Timms needed cookies or something special, he would say, “what and how much?” He always enjoyed helping out! 
As Gary grew older, music continued to play a huge part in his life. No matter what he was doing, he had some kind of music playing. He loved to play the guitar and could sit for hours and pick along with all sorts of music genres, from James Taylor, B.B. King, The Eagles, Willie Nelson, Chris Stapleton, to Tom MacDonald.  

Gary was a very intelligent and talented man, always full of interests and plans to do many things. Our family was a huge fan of ice hockey. We enjoyed many Tulsa Oilers games and running Clint all over the countryside to play high school hockey and Junior A Hockey! Those were great times!!  Gary also enjoyed traveling, gardening, painting, and woodworking. A man of many trades!  

Gary passed away Sunday morning March 5, 2023, at his home in Claremore, Oklahoma. Gary is preceded in death by his Dad, Ralph Ferguson, Grandparents, George Clarence and Leora Ferguson, and Wilburn and Ruth Ferguson. He is survived by his Sweetheart Cheri Robinson, his sons Geremy and his wife Sherrie, Chad and his wife Paula, and Clint and his wife Chelsea, grandchildren Zayne and Lilian, Mom, Margery Ferguson, brothers, Randy and his wife Carolyn, Robert, and Mark. His nephews Justin, Ryan, Kyle, Stephen, and 2 great nephews, Roman and Hunter. His Uncle Art Ferguson, many cousins, family and friends. 
 
Gary will be greatly missed as a co-worker, a friend, a cousin, an uncle, a brother, a son, a Big Papa, a dad, a sweetheart… and The Best Doggie Dad to Honeysuckle “LB”!