Sallie Peterson Ferguson

FERGUSON (PETERSON) Sallie Peterson Ferguson, age 70, passed away in hospice care surrounded by family on Friday, September 6, 2013. Sallie inspired deep love in her family, so although she was a private person who wanted neither obituary nor memorial service, she is getting both.

Sallie was born in Hart, Michigan, the granddaughter of Danish and Bohemian immigrants. She grew up on a fruit farm outside of Ludington. She was a hard-working farm kid, spending her summers picking cherries, peaches, and apples. The daughter of a devoted and well-loved schoolteacher, Leona Peterson, Sallie was valedictorian of the Ludington High School class of 1961. She attended Valparaiso and Western Michigan Universities, earning a Master's Degree from the latter. In 1967, Sallie married Jon Ferguson, whom she had known since high school. She took time off from teaching to raise her daughters, later returning to teach middle- and high-school English. She taught Vietnamese immigrant students in Grand Rapids in the early 1980s; later, she taught in urban and rural schools in the Dayton, Ohio, area. She was passionate about literature and public education.

Sallie devoted herself to her daughters' educations. She created opportunities for them throughout their young lives, beginning with helping to found the Montessori School of Kalamazoo, and culminating in providing for their college educations. Both daughters went on to graduate studies in their chosen fields, philosophy and law. Although often working with limited resources when her children were young, Sallie created myriad educational opportunities, a series of beautiful homes, and many special vacations, holidays, and treats for her family.

Sallie loved her family, especially her grandchildren; books; cherry pie; flower and herb gardening; early American history and literature; Shaker furniture and design; the Lutheran Church; three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels; steamboat cruises on the Mississippi River; and the music of Willie Nelson. She did not like her husband's boats nor the deer that ate her roses, though she tolerated both. A deeply private person, Sallie had a sense of humor, a generosity, and a rare aesthetic gift that perhaps only those closest to her got to see. She made beauty wherever she went.

Sallie was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Leona (Christensen) Peterson, and her dear friends Sue and Wally Blanksma. She will be terribly missed and lovingly remembered by her husband of 46 years, Jon Ferguson; her daughters Sara Roi (David Whitmore) and Anna Beth (Dean Valore); her grandchildren, Gabriel, Lucian, and Camila; her sister, Suzann Gardin; her cousins; her nieces and nephew; her grandnieces and grandnephews; and her friends.

Memorial services will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, September 21 at Cook Memorial Chapel in Grandville, 4235 Prairie St. SW (east building), with visitation prior to the service beginning at 1 PM.

Sallie's love of gardens and the importance of education will live on in perpetuity by the establishment of the Sallie Peterson Ferguson Memorial Fund at the Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Foundation subtitled ' to support the ability of underprivileged children to visit Meijer Gardens including transportation, admission and materials.' In honor of Sallie, contributions may be made to Fredrik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Foundation, 2929 Walker NW, Grand Rapids, 49544, in lieu of flowers. The family welcomes memories and messages in their guestbook online at www.cookcares.com.

Visitation September 21, 2013 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Cook Memorial Chapel (East building) 4235 Prairie St. SW Grandville, MI (616) 534-7619

Memorial Service September 21, 2013 2:00 PM Cook Memorial Chapel (East building) 4235 Prairie St. SW Grandville, MI (616) 534-7619