Ralph Ferguson

Ralph FergusonRalph Ferguson, 78, one of Gold Canyon"s most beloved citizens, passed away Dec. 27 after a short illness. He came to Arizona in 1948, when he was in pilot training at Williams AFB. He earned his BA in education from Northern Arizona University and his MA from Arizona State University. He spent 40 years in the field of education first as a classroom teacher and next as Director of Educational Technology for the Arizona State Department of Education.His love of education carried over into his retirement years, leading him to start a volunteer reading program at Peralta Trails Elementary School that won him a volunteerism award from the Apache Junction United School District. Also in his retirement years he operated RFI, a garage cabinets company, and won the Bob DeBow Business Person of the Year Award from the Gold Canyon Business Association in 2003.  A wonderful story teller with a "we can fix it attitude," Mr. Ferguson loved helping others and always had another project he was working on. He was also a photographer and wood craftsman.He is survived by his wife, Kathy Parker; his children, Herb Solost, Bill Ferguson, Art Ferguson, Cam Connolly, Paige White, Lon White and Jack Parker; their spouses; 16 grandchildren; one great-daughter; and many friends.A celebration of the life of Mr. Ferguson will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 4 at Mountain View Cemetery in Mesa. A visitation, beginning at 10 a.m., will precede the service and a reception will follow at the Mountain Brook Village activity center.