William Dwight Ferguson

There was much elation in the Ferguson family on September 29, 1937 when a new member of the William and Anna Ferguson family of Hardin, MO was born. William Dwight Ferguson or “Billy” as he was often called joined four older sisters and grew up to be 6’2”. His church attendance was almost perfect from the time he was a month old. Bill’s father owned the Chevrolet dealership in Hardin and he spent his early years around cars and trucks. He worked for his father at the dealership until his father’s untimely death in 1968. His next employment was at the Lake City Ammunition Plant packing rounds of ammunition for shipment where he worked until his mother passed.

Bill moved to be close to his sisters, especially Carolyn Lane (Ferguson) who attended the Liberty RLDS Church. A friend of Bill’s who worked at Kenworth Trucks suggested Bill take the company’s test and physical and he went to work the next day at Kenworth. He worked in the cab department installing gauges and instruments in over-the-road semi-trucks for 13 years. Bill then went to work for Pinkerton Security Company until 1982.

Twila, was caring for the invalid wife of Bill Smithhart, who was a police officer in Liberty, when she met Carolyn Lane, Bill’s sister who introduced Twila to Bill. They were married 18 months later.

Later he worked at the Community of Christ Auditorium and Temple Complex in Independence where he became acquainted with many officials in the church.

Bill has played roles as the Easter bunny and Santa Clause, was a volunteer at the American Royal, served as a Salvation Army Bell Ringer and helped at Love Inc. here in Liberty.

Bill’s antique cars were special. The cars he owned included a 1963 Chevrolet sedan, a 1957 pickup, a 1970 Chevrolet car, and the car of which he was most proud, a 1980 El Camino Sports Pickup. Many of his cars were displayed in car shows for which he received several awards.

A trait of the Ferguson Family that Bill shared was the love of ice cream.

His attention to the family dog, Rusty Boots, was equal to the attention Rusty Boots gave to Bill.

His wife, Twila Ferguson, of the home, survives Bill. He leaves a brother-in-law and many nieces and nephews as well. His parents and four sisters preceded him in death.

William Dwight Ferguson passed away peacefully December 28, 2016. Visitation will be from 9:30-10:30 a.m. followed by funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 31, at Liberty Community of Christ, 1220 W. Liberty Drive, Liberty, Missouri. Burial in Richmond Memory Gardens, Richmond, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 6900 College Boulevard, Suite 250, Overland Park, Kansas 66211.

Arrangements under the direction of Mt Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, Kansas City, MO.