Forest was born June 28, 1933, in Augusta, Arkansas, the fourth of five children to Walter Harry Ferguson and Lillie Campbell Ferguson. After graduating from McCrory High School in McCrory, Arkansas, he enlisted in the Air Force at the age of 17 and served first as a cook and later as an electronic and radar specialist. Following his Air Force stint, Forest attended Memphis State University. In 1956, Forest met the woman who would become his best friend and the love of his life, Marie Hardin. They swept each other off their feet, married six weeks later, and went on to have three daughters.
Over the course of Forest’s long career with Hooper Holmes Inc—first as an insurance claims investigator and ultimately as head of sales and direct marketing—he and Marie and their girls lived in Memphis, Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, Georgia, and New Hampshire, finally landing in New Jersey, where they stayed for about 20 years. In 1993 Forest and Marie returned to Tennessee, where they settled in Lakeland.
Forest enjoyed his career—in particular the golf outings—but his greatest joy came from his family and friends. He was a devoted husband, loving father, cheerful grandfather, caring friend, and enthusiastic storyteller, who was always making a long story short (not). He was funny, kind, sensitive, and intensely loyal. He had the soul of poet and over the years gifted his family with his verse.
Forest is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marie, and their three daughters: Marfe Ferguson of Alexandria, Virginia, and her husband, Geody Delano; Karen Wolverton of Washington, New Jersey, and her husband Bill Wolverton; Sherri DeCoursey of Wasilla, Alaska, and her husband Scott DeCoursey; grandchildren Allison Delano, David Delano, and Dan Sorge; sisters Don Patterson and Jeanne Tranchell and brother Robert Ferguson; sisters-in-law Carolyn Holloway, Barbara Petty, and Donna Prysock; and many nieces and nephews.
A service in celebration of Forest’s life will be held at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN, on July 1, 2022, at 2:00 pm, with visitation from 1:00-2:00 pm. A reception will follow. The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made in Forest’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or a veteran’s support organization of your choice.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the Ferguson family.
