Barry Ferguson

Barry N. "Coach" Ferguson, 67, passed away Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at Kingston of Ashland. Born November 22, 1943, in Mansfield, he is the son of the late Elsie Frank and Sherman M. Ferguson. Barry graduated from Mansfield Madison High School in 1961 and from Ashland College in 1965 with a Bachelor degree in Education. He received his Master's of Education degree from the University of Oklahoma. Coach began his teaching career in the Ashland City School system in 1965 and retired in 1994. While at Ashland, he was the head golf coach, and head coach of varsity wrestling and was an assistant football coach. He also was the assistant football coach at Ashland College from 1972-1988. Coach was co-founder of the JAWS wrestling program in the early 1970s. He served on the board of Little Brothers and Little Sisters. Barry was a member of the Elks Lodge and former member of the Ashland City Teachers Association and National Educators Association. An active man who loved all sports, he played slow pitch softball for Stagerwald & LaRue, as well as a teacher's team "Pedagog" as well as playing golf on the Elk's golf where he served as past-President.

He leaves behind his son, Scott Ferguson of Ashland; daughter, Tracy Ferguson McCormic of VA; grandchildren, McKensey Ferguson, Mason McCormic, Ethan McCormic and Shea McCormic; and the mother of his children, Maryilynn Folmer Ferguson of Ashland. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by two sons, Matthew Timothy and Thomas Bryan Ferguson.

Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Monday, December 27, 2010 at the Ashland Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 308 Claremont Avenue. Funeral service will be Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. in the funeral home with Rev. Donald Earlenbaugh officiating. Burial will follow in Mansfield Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Central Ohio, 1050 Dauch Drive, Ashland, Ohio 44805.