Melvin Ray Ferguson, age 78, of Whittier died Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at Haywood County Regional Medical Center in Clyde. Ray was born May 22, 1938 in Haywood County, the second of five children, to the late Fred and Valerie Davis Ferguson. The family moved to Whittier in 1940 where Ray would reside throughout his lifetime. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Barbara, and oldest daughter, Trudi Lamond.
Upon returning from service in the U.S. Army, he founded the Ray Ferguson Trucking Company, and continued to work in construction the remainder of his life. He was a member of Shoal Creek Baptist Church, a member of the Cherokee Rodders Club, the Western N.C. Truck Club, and the western N.C. Cruisers Club. He was very active in the Republican party of Western N.C. He loved racing and restoring classic cars and trucks, farming and animals, and having breakfast with good friends at Peter’s Pancakes.
He is survived by his daughter, Teri and her husband Scott Barber; his son-in-law, Brian Lamond; grandchildren, Ryan Ferguson, Avery Barber, and Lilli and Ella Lamond; one sister, Vivadean Kinsland; brothers, David, Freddie and Donald (Hoppy) Ferguson, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral will be held on Saturday, May 28 at 1pm at Shoal Creek Baptist Church with Rev. Steve Jamison officiating. Burial will follow in Sherrill Cemetery on Old Mission Road. The family will receive friends at Appalachian Funeral Service from 6-8pm on Friday, May 27.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shoal Creek Church Building Fund, 184 Shoal Creek Church Loop, Whittier, NC 28789 or Sherrill Cemetery Fund, c/o Joyce Cooper, P.O. Box 1254 Cherokee, NC 28719. An online registry is available at www.appalachianfuneralservices.com