"The Mountains are calling, and I must go." John Muir
Raymond Allan "Ray" Ferguson was born September 22, 1948 at the American Legion Hospital in Telluride, CO to John Ferguson, Jr. and Gladys Dill Ferguson and passed away on January 11, 2018 at The Hospice at Mercy Hospital in Durango, CO.
The Ferguson family moved from Telluride, CO to Durango, CO in 1954. Ray attended Needham Elementary, Smiley Junior High and graduated from Durango High School in 1966. He also attended Fort Lewis College in Durango. Ray joined the Army Reserves in 1966. Ray was on the nationally ranked Fort Lewis gymnastics team and the National Ski Patrol at Purgatory.
He worked on the construction of the Telluride Ski Resort and was a member of their first Professional Ski Patrol. He worked at several mines in the San Juan mountains and worked many years in engineering and construction. He was active in environmental remediation and was a member of the Animas River Stakeholders Group. He was also a member of Durango American Legion Post 28.
Ray is survived by his siblings John H. Ferguson, Claire (Ferguson) Bennett, Alice Ferguson, nephews John S. Bennett, Scott Bennett, Chris Bennett, Shawn Kozlowski, Clifford Ferguson, niece Andria (Bennett) Hudspeth, grand nephews Brandon Hudspeth, Jordan Hudspeth and Chandler Bennett. Ray is preceded in death by his mother Gladys Ferguson and father John Ferguson, Jr. Ray will be remembered as a person who was curious and was always trying to find the answers to everything. He was stubbornly loyal to his country, Scottish heritage, family and friends. A memorial service will be held in Durango in late spring or early summer.