Gordon Van Ferguson, 75, was called home Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at Boone Hospital Center surrounded by his loving family.
Visitation is 9 to 11 a.m., Saturday, March 19, at Memorial Funeral Home, Columbia. Funeral services follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Millersburg Cemetery, Millersburg.
Gordon was born May 2, 1940, in St. Charles, to Arthur and Olivia VanHouten Ferguson. He was their only child. Gordon graduated from Centralia High School in 1958 and went on to graduate from the University of Missouri Columbia with a BS in agriculture in 1962 and an MS in education in 1987. He proudly served in the United States Army National Guard from 1962 to 1968. He was also a member of Rising Sun Baptist Church.
Gordon was a true cowboy. He grew up showing cattle and helping his father at various Angus farms around the country. In 1962 Gordon left home to work at Blue Sky Farm in Kearney. Often hailed as "the best times of his life," he went on the road with Blue Sky's string of Angus cattle and showed many champions along the way. He exhibited at the Missouri State Fair, American Royal in Kansas City, the International Live Stock Exposition in Chicago, the National Western Stock Show in Denver, the Grand National Livestock Show at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, the Arizona Livestock Show, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Fort Worth Livestock Show and the Western States Angus Futurity, where they had Supreme Champion Heifer in 1965 and were recognized on stage at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas. He cherished this time in his life and the many lifelong friends he made along the way.
Gordon was a talented calf roper and was a member of the United Rodeo Association. In the summer of 1969 he was able to spend the entire summer competing at rodeos all around the Midwest with his horse named Punk.
On Feb. 10, 1973, Gordon was united in marriage to Sandra Lynn (Graham) Ferguson in Richmond. They settled in Columbia close to his parents, Art and Olivia, and raised their own herd of Angus cattle. He raised club calves and was so proud to have raised the 1993 Champion Steer at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville and several champions his daughters exhibited at local shows, county fairs and the Missouri State Fair.
Gordon spent 13 years as an over the road driver for Wards Trucking and then went on to work at Dimensions in Wood for 25 years. He loved to read and learn, becoming a talented woodworker and machinist. The last several years he fabricated and machined parts and built small hit and miss engines. Gordon made many friends throughout his life and was always there to lend a helping hand. He always had a good story to tell and will be sadly missed by many.
Gordon and Sandra had 43 wonderful years together. He passed on his love of livestock, showing and hard work to his daughters. He especially loved watching his children grow up and loved the family vacations they took to Florida and Branson. Gordon was proud to see his family expand. He was especially proud to see Amy graduate from nursing school last year and was so happy she found Jason, a kind and loving man. Gordon loved his son-in-law, John, like a son and his two granddaughters, Jillian and Adrienne, were the apple of his eye. He loved taking them to feed cows and watching them participate in all their activities. He loved teasing them and always had a joke and laugh to share with them. Gordon was a loving husband, father, grandfather and a great friend who will be greatly missed and always remembered.
Gordon is survived by his wife, Sandra, of 43 years; two children, Carrie Bryant (John), of Fulton, and Amy Ferguson (Dr. Jason Beal), of Overland Park, Kan.; two grandchildren, Jillian and Adrienne Bryant; and his mother-in-law, Beulah Graham, of Richmond.
Memorials may be made to Missouri State Fair Foundation, in the name of Gordon Ferguson.
Visitation is 9 to 11 a.m., Saturday, March 19, at Memorial Funeral Home, Columbia. Funeral services follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Millersburg Cemetery, Millersburg.
Gordon was born May 2, 1940, in St. Charles, to Arthur and Olivia VanHouten Ferguson. He was their only child. Gordon graduated from Centralia High School in 1958 and went on to graduate from the University of Missouri Columbia with a BS in agriculture in 1962 and an MS in education in 1987. He proudly served in the United States Army National Guard from 1962 to 1968. He was also a member of Rising Sun Baptist Church.
Gordon was a true cowboy. He grew up showing cattle and helping his father at various Angus farms around the country. In 1962 Gordon left home to work at Blue Sky Farm in Kearney. Often hailed as "the best times of his life," he went on the road with Blue Sky's string of Angus cattle and showed many champions along the way. He exhibited at the Missouri State Fair, American Royal in Kansas City, the International Live Stock Exposition in Chicago, the National Western Stock Show in Denver, the Grand National Livestock Show at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, the Arizona Livestock Show, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Fort Worth Livestock Show and the Western States Angus Futurity, where they had Supreme Champion Heifer in 1965 and were recognized on stage at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas. He cherished this time in his life and the many lifelong friends he made along the way.
Gordon was a talented calf roper and was a member of the United Rodeo Association. In the summer of 1969 he was able to spend the entire summer competing at rodeos all around the Midwest with his horse named Punk.
On Feb. 10, 1973, Gordon was united in marriage to Sandra Lynn (Graham) Ferguson in Richmond. They settled in Columbia close to his parents, Art and Olivia, and raised their own herd of Angus cattle. He raised club calves and was so proud to have raised the 1993 Champion Steer at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville and several champions his daughters exhibited at local shows, county fairs and the Missouri State Fair.
Gordon spent 13 years as an over the road driver for Wards Trucking and then went on to work at Dimensions in Wood for 25 years. He loved to read and learn, becoming a talented woodworker and machinist. The last several years he fabricated and machined parts and built small hit and miss engines. Gordon made many friends throughout his life and was always there to lend a helping hand. He always had a good story to tell and will be sadly missed by many.
Gordon and Sandra had 43 wonderful years together. He passed on his love of livestock, showing and hard work to his daughters. He especially loved watching his children grow up and loved the family vacations they took to Florida and Branson. Gordon was proud to see his family expand. He was especially proud to see Amy graduate from nursing school last year and was so happy she found Jason, a kind and loving man. Gordon loved his son-in-law, John, like a son and his two granddaughters, Jillian and Adrienne, were the apple of his eye. He loved taking them to feed cows and watching them participate in all their activities. He loved teasing them and always had a joke and laugh to share with them. Gordon was a loving husband, father, grandfather and a great friend who will be greatly missed and always remembered.
Gordon is survived by his wife, Sandra, of 43 years; two children, Carrie Bryant (John), of Fulton, and Amy Ferguson (Dr. Jason Beal), of Overland Park, Kan.; two grandchildren, Jillian and Adrienne Bryant; and his mother-in-law, Beulah Graham, of Richmond.
Memorials may be made to Missouri State Fair Foundation, in the name of Gordon Ferguson.
Gordon Van Ferguson, 75, was called home Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at Boone Hospital Center surrounded by his loving family.
Visitation is 9 to 11 a.m., Saturday, March 19, at Memorial Funeral Home, Columbia. Funeral services follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Millersburg Cemetery, Millersburg.
Gordon was born May 2, 1940, in St. Charles, to Arthur and Olivia VanHouten Ferguson. He was their only child. Gordon graduated from Centralia High School in 1958 and went on to graduate from the University of Missouri Columbia with a BS in agriculture in 1962 and an MS in education in 1987. He proudly served in the United States Army National Guard from 1962 to 1968. He was also a member of Rising Sun Baptist Church.
Gordon was a true cowboy. He grew up showing cattle and helping his father at various Angus farms around the country. In 1962 Gordon left home to work at Blue Sky Farm in Kearney. Often hailed as "the best times of his life," he went on the road with Blue Sky's string of Angus cattle and showed many champions along the way. He exhibited at the Missouri State Fair, American Royal in Kansas City, the International Live Stock Exposition in Chicago, the National Western Stock Show in Denver, the Grand National Livestock Show at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, the Arizona Livestock Show, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Fort Worth Livestock Show and the Western States Angus Futurity, where they had Supreme Champion Heifer in 1965 and were recognized on stage at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas. He cherished this time in his life and the many lifelong friends he made along the way.
Gordon was a talented calf roper and was a member of the United Rodeo Association. In the summer of 1969 he was able to spend the entire summer competing at rodeos all around the Midwest with his horse named Punk.
On Feb. 10, 1973, Gordon was united in marriage to Sandra Lynn (Graham) Ferguson in Richmond. They settled in Columbia close to his parents, Art and Olivia, and raised their own herd of Angus cattle. He raised club calves and was so proud to have raised the 1993 Champion Steer at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville and several champions his daughters exhibited at local shows, county fairs and the Missouri State Fair.
Gordon spent 13 years as an over the road driver for Wards Trucking and then went on to work at Dimensions in Wood for 25 years. He loved to read and learn, becoming a talented woodworker and machinist. The last several years he fabricated and machined parts and built small hit and miss engines. Gordon made many friends throughout his life and was always there to lend a helping hand. He always had a good story to tell and will be sadly missed by many.
Gordon and Sandra had 43 wonderful years together. He passed on his love of livestock, showing and hard work to his daughters. He especially loved watching his children grow up and loved the family vacations they took to Florida and Branson. Gordon was proud to see his family expand. He was especially proud to see Amy graduate from nursing school last year and was so happy she found Jason, a kind and loving man. Gordon loved his son-in-law, John, like a son and his two granddaughters, Jillian and Adrienne, were the apple of his eye. He loved taking them to feed cows and watching them participate in all their activities. He loved teasing them and always had a joke and laugh to share with them. Gordon was a loving husband, father, grandfather and a great friend who will be greatly missed and always remembered.
Gordon is survived by his wife, Sandra, of 43 years; two children, Carrie Bryant (John), of Fulton, and Amy Ferguson (Dr. Jason Beal), of Overland Park, Kan.; two grandchildren, Jillian and Adrienne Bryant; and his mother-in-law, Beulah Graham, of Richmond.
Memorials may be made to Missouri State Fair Foundation, in the name of Gordon Ferguson.
Visitation is 9 to 11 a.m., Saturday, March 19, at Memorial Funeral Home, Columbia. Funeral services follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Millersburg Cemetery, Millersburg.
Gordon was born May 2, 1940, in St. Charles, to Arthur and Olivia VanHouten Ferguson. He was their only child. Gordon graduated from Centralia High School in 1958 and went on to graduate from the University of Missouri Columbia with a BS in agriculture in 1962 and an MS in education in 1987. He proudly served in the United States Army National Guard from 1962 to 1968. He was also a member of Rising Sun Baptist Church.
Gordon was a true cowboy. He grew up showing cattle and helping his father at various Angus farms around the country. In 1962 Gordon left home to work at Blue Sky Farm in Kearney. Often hailed as "the best times of his life," he went on the road with Blue Sky's string of Angus cattle and showed many champions along the way. He exhibited at the Missouri State Fair, American Royal in Kansas City, the International Live Stock Exposition in Chicago, the National Western Stock Show in Denver, the Grand National Livestock Show at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, the Arizona Livestock Show, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Fort Worth Livestock Show and the Western States Angus Futurity, where they had Supreme Champion Heifer in 1965 and were recognized on stage at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas. He cherished this time in his life and the many lifelong friends he made along the way.
Gordon was a talented calf roper and was a member of the United Rodeo Association. In the summer of 1969 he was able to spend the entire summer competing at rodeos all around the Midwest with his horse named Punk.
On Feb. 10, 1973, Gordon was united in marriage to Sandra Lynn (Graham) Ferguson in Richmond. They settled in Columbia close to his parents, Art and Olivia, and raised their own herd of Angus cattle. He raised club calves and was so proud to have raised the 1993 Champion Steer at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville and several champions his daughters exhibited at local shows, county fairs and the Missouri State Fair.
Gordon spent 13 years as an over the road driver for Wards Trucking and then went on to work at Dimensions in Wood for 25 years. He loved to read and learn, becoming a talented woodworker and machinist. The last several years he fabricated and machined parts and built small hit and miss engines. Gordon made many friends throughout his life and was always there to lend a helping hand. He always had a good story to tell and will be sadly missed by many.
Gordon and Sandra had 43 wonderful years together. He passed on his love of livestock, showing and hard work to his daughters. He especially loved watching his children grow up and loved the family vacations they took to Florida and Branson. Gordon was proud to see his family expand. He was especially proud to see Amy graduate from nursing school last year and was so happy she found Jason, a kind and loving man. Gordon loved his son-in-law, John, like a son and his two granddaughters, Jillian and Adrienne, were the apple of his eye. He loved taking them to feed cows and watching them participate in all their activities. He loved teasing them and always had a joke and laugh to share with them. Gordon was a loving husband, father, grandfather and a great friend who will be greatly missed and always remembered.
Gordon is survived by his wife, Sandra, of 43 years; two children, Carrie Bryant (John), of Fulton, and Amy Ferguson (Dr. Jason Beal), of Overland Park, Kan.; two grandchildren, Jillian and Adrienne Bryant; and his mother-in-law, Beulah Graham, of Richmond.
Memorials may be made to Missouri State Fair Foundation, in the name of Gordon Ferguson.
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