Roy Ferguson

Roy Ferguson, 79, of Moses Lake, died Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008, at the Lake Ridge Special Care Center in Moses Lake, with his family at his side.

Roy was born on Dec. 3, 1928, in Parkston, S.D., to Roger Evin and Vernie Myrtle (Williams) Ferguson. As a young child the family moved to Pavillion, Wyo., where Roy was raised and graduated from high school. He married Luthera Mohler in 1947. They moved to the Columbia Basin in 1948. In 1949 Roy went to work for the Bureau of Reclamation with the Quincy Columbia Basin Irrigation District (QCBID) He and Luthera moved to Royal Slope in 1961. Luthera and Roy had four children, Mike, Mark, Eric and Wendy. In 1983 Luthera died. He met Jean Mathis in 1985. They married and Jean's children, Jon, Tim and Theresa, joined Roy's family.

Roy worked for the Department of Reclamation for 41 years, the last 30 at Blythe on Royal Slope acting as water master for the last 22 years, retiring in 1990.

Roy was active as a Royal High School booster. Even when his health made it difficult to get to the games, his good friend Bill Barker would see that he got to and from the games safely. He had enjoyed helping at the sport events when he was able, especially football, wrestling and softball. Roy loved to travel and he and Jean enjoyed their fifth wheel after his retirement, traveling in caravan to Alaska and Mexico. They traveled through most of the United States and Canada. He was a wood working craftsman, making cut out Santa Clauses, reindeer and cows, just to name a few. He was an avid rose gardener who enjoyed working and nurturing his garden, he will be remembered for his large rose garden on the corner in Royal City, giving bouquets away to those who would stop to admire his work. He was a member of The International Order of Odd Fellows.

Roy was preceded in death by his parents, and his first wife Luthera, a grandson Chase, his brother Mick, and his sister Virginia, Frances and Jessie. He is survived by his wife Jean of Moses Lake, his sons and daughters-in-law Mike and Cheryl of Moses Lake, Mark and Meralee of Quincy, Eric of Moses Lake, Jon and Kathy Mathis of Moses Lake and Tim Mathis of Royal City; his daughters and sons-in-law Wendy and Rick Gilbert of Cheney and Theresa Mathis and Dan Allen of Idaho Falls, his 94-year-old sister Margaret of Wyoming, 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Roy's life will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 16, at 11 a.m. at the Moses Lake First Presbyterian Church, with Pastor Eric Frey presiding. Burial will follow at the Moses Lake Pioneer Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Stevens Funeral Chapel of Othello. The chapel asked people to please view this obituary, sign the guest book and light a candle for Roy at their Web site www.stevensfuneralchapel.com.