Jamie Dewar Ferguson

Jamie Dewar Ferguson, 53, of Austin, Texas, passed away on October 29, 2014, after jumping into Lake Austin to save his dog. He was born in Houston on December 16, 1960, and grew up in Austin. Jamie was a proud alumnus (cum laude) of the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee and The University of Texas. An avid nature lover, Jamie studied wildlife biology and ornithology. He was passionate about bird-watching, often travelling to south Texas and southern Arizona to partake in migratory bird counts. As a lower and middle school science teacher in the Eanes Independent School District, he was able to share this passion and enthusiasm about animals and nature with his students.

Jamie was one of a kind: a practical joker, a confirmed curmudgeon, a connoisseur of hard candy and Pez, a devotee of Star Trek (the original series), a hot dog gourmand, a renowned film expert on spaghetti westerns, a warm beer guzzler, a bottle-top toss champion, an avid fan of classic rock and roll and a fun-loving uncle to his nieces and nephews, as well as his numerous god-children. Most of all, Jamie was kind and warm-hearted to strangers and animals alike.

Jamie was preceded in death by his mother, Hallie Dewar Heyer, his uncle, Jamie Dewar, step-mother, Pat Ferguson, and brother, Gregory Heyer. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Litolff Ferguson; father, Keene Ferguson; step-father, George Heyer; siblings, Kelly and Scott Ferguson, Hallie Ferguson, Mila and Jody Ferguson, Mallory Leitner, Ursula Comeaux, Jennifer Heyer, Connie and William Heyer; nieces and nephews, Rachel, Walt and Kelly and Claire Ferguson, Max Chester and Hallie Fei Smith, Alex, Paulina and Phillip Ferguson, Nicole and Will Heyer, Will Smith, Avery Comeaux, Tracy Litolff, Asa, Niki and Zoefei Litolff; in-laws Colleen and Louis Kuttruff, Jean and Ed Litolff, Yan and Brian Litolff; and special family friend Lilly Dell Bonner, and his beloved god-children.

His motto in life was "live long and prosper".

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 1st at 1:00 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Austin. A reception will follow at Tarry House.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in honor of Jamie to: The Audubon Society, the Balcones Canyonland National Wildlife Refuge or The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd.