This memorial website was created in memory of our beloved father, Mead Ferguson, 86, born on September 12, 1930 and passed away on September 15, 2016. We will remember him forever.
Mead Ferguson of Woodward, Oklahoma, died peacefully on September 15th, three days after his 86th birthday, in the Oklahoma Heart Hospital, Oklahoma City, surrounded by family.
Mead was born in Wellington, Kansas to Elizabeth and Dwight Ferguson and moved to Woodward, Oklahoma when he was 6 weeks old. He attended the Woodward schools through his early High School years until he went to Taft School in Connecticut. He graduated cum laude from Yale University with a BS in physics and math in 1953. He then spent two years in the U.S. Army Artillery from 1953-1955, assigned to the Atomic Energy Commission at Aberdeen Proving Ground to work on sound waves from nuclear explosions at Nevada Proving Ground. After serving in the Army, he graduated from Harvard Business School with an MBA in 1957. He was a Baker Scholar (top 10 in his class).
He began working for Esso at the Baton Rouge refinery followed by assignments of increasing responsibility at Humble Oil in Houston (Supply and Transportation), and at the corporate headquarters in New York City (Coordination and Planning). He then spent 11 years in London, England with the Esso Middle East Office. After retirement in 1980, he returned to Woodward, Oklahoma to operate a cow/calf ranch and to partner in cow/calf and stocker operations in the Kansas Flint Hills. These operations have expanded and continue today.
Mead was active in many organizations. These include: serving as an elder and session member of the First Presbyterian Church in Woodward, Oklahoma, friend of St. John's Episcopal Church in Woodward, Oklahoma, Director and President of the Woodward Arts Council and the Plains Indians and Pioneers Museum in Woodward, Oklahoma, Director of the Oklahoma Humanities Council, President and Director of the Great Salt Plains Boy Scout Council, President and Director of the National Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association and Oklahoma Angus Association, Chairman of the Woodward County Conservation District, Director of the Oklahoma Economic Development Association and of the Resource Conservation and Development Group. He was a member of the Woodward Elks and of the Woodward Rotary Club where he served as past President, and was on the board of the Woodward Hospital and Health Center. He was a board member and past Chairman of the Security State Bank in Wellington, Kansas and was enthusiastically supportive of Friends of Historic Fort Supply. An Eagle Scout himself, he was a Scout leader in Houston, New York City and London.
An ardent sports fan, Mead was proud to be on the Woodward state champion football team in 1947 that went to the Super Bowl. While at Yale he was on the wrestling team where, after a tough match that Yale won against Army, he was described as "the gritty little blue" in the New York Times sports section. Since returning to Woodward, he has enjoyed attending many wrestling matches at OSU. An avid tennis enthusiast, he was thrilled to be able to attend many Wimbledon matches while living in London, where he coached both of his sons' Little League Baseball teams.
Mead is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Tally Ferguson, three children, Elizabeth, Tally and Christopher, their spouses James Stoeffel, Noreen Casey and Christina Ferguson, and grandchildren Price and Christopher Stoeffel, Casey and Mikey Ferguson and Nicola Ferguson. He was preceded in death by his parents Elizabeth and Dwight Ferguson, and by his brothers Deems, William and David.
Mead will be missed by all.
The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Woodward, Oklahoma with interment following at Elmwood Cemetery. A reception will be held afterwards at the church. Pastor Ann Wasson and Rev. Mary Davis will officiate. In lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable donation in Mead's honor to either the First Presbyterian Church of Woodward, Oklahoma, St. John's Episcopal Church of Woodward, Oklahoma, or to a charity of your choice.
Grand Mead had a very enthusiastic way of interacting with us, the grand kids. I don't think there was a single thing we could say without him getting really excited, and making comments like "you did?! wow!" in a slightly high-pitched, sing-songy voice. I'm sure that a part of the voice he used was because we were young and it was a cutesy way to speak, but I think that was only a small part. He never said anything that felt insincere or forced, and I think that's because he was truly amazed to hear about the things that all of my cousins, my brother and I were doing in our lives. He always seemed so proud of us all, and it was always easy to tell that he had an immense amount of love for us and his children and Mima.
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Mead was smiling,engaging, and articulate. His energy and enthusiasm for the task at hand was catching. In conducting church business he was able to see a challenge from many angles. He listened carefully to others and was able to artfully choose elements of those discussions to spur the creation of a workable plan.
He and Mary are a remarkable couple, community leaders, great hosts, and wonderful friends. We all enjoyed our time with them.
It saddens us to think that we will not see that strong, articulate, dapper fellow with the confident stride come into fellowship hall at the Presbyterian church.
I first got to know Mead when he & Mary brought their English cocker, Prince, to me for grooming and boarding.
Mead loved Prince, but loved cavalier king charles spaniels from his London years so soon Robin Hood was added to the family.
Whenever I picked up the Prince & Robbie, Mead would put their leashes on them and walk them to the car and he'd talk to them about all their buddies at daycare. Then he'd pet all the dogs in the car.
When I brought Prince & Robbie home, they'd enter the house barking. Mead would come out of his office and hollar, "the boys! the boys!" They'd greet each other joyously and he'd grab their leashes to go for a walk so the dogs could bark at the sneaky squirrels invading the neighborhood.
Prince passed away in the spring.
