Margaret Hamill Ferry

Margaret Mary “Peg” Ferry, 87, passed away peacefully on November 2, 2025 under the care of Hospice at Pennybyrn Retirement Community in High Point, North Carolina. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Peg was born on February 12, 1938 in Santa Barbara, California, the first child of Frances Zemella Hamill and Augustine Cyril “Gus” Hamill. The family grew to include four younger brothers: Thomas Alfred Hamill, George Vincent Hamill, Patrick Joseph Hamill and John Francis Hamill. In 1953, the family moved to Santa Maria, California.

After graduating in 1958 from the Highland School of Nursing in Oakland, Peg and four classmates joined the Army Nurse Corps and trained in Fort Sam Houston in Texas. In 1960, Peg spent two years as a civilian nurse in San Francisco while also attending university classes. Peg was recalled to active duty in 1962 with the Army Nurse Corps and was sent to Madigan Army Hospital in Takoma, Washington where she met her future husband Darwin John “Dar” Ferry, an Army doctor who was a physician intern. Peg and Dar were married June 8, 1962 in the chapel of Madigan Hospital. Dar had $32 in cash and bought the rings at G Mart. Peg completed her Army tour of duty at Madigan and moved in 1962 with Dar to the Army Base in Fulda, Germany. In 1963 she gave birth to her first child, Michael John.

In 1964, Peg and Dar moved to the Washington, DC area where Dar was completing his neurosurgery residency at Walter Reed Army Hospital. Peg gave birth to daughters Julie Marie in September 1964 and Kelly Eileen in January 1967. In July 1969, enroute to Dar’s Army assignment in Honolulu, Hawaii, the young family drove across the United States to visit family. In Hawaii, Peg raised her children, attended classes at the University of Hawaii, and mentored students arriving at the University’s International Center.

In 1972, Dar completed his Army obligations in Hawaii and the family moved to Roanoke, Virginia, where Peg became a master gardener and was heavily involved with the Red Cross and local book clubs. Her children fondly recall family holidays including singing carols around the piano at Christmas, Peg’s excellent cooking and sense of style, outgoing sense of humor, and her nightly scotch. Each summer, Peg and Dar’s extended family would gather at North Carolina beaches, a tradition that continues to this day. Peg enjoyed hours-long Crazy 8 card games and Sorry board game marathons with her children and grandchildren, creative and funny “Hat Nights,” star gazing, and beach walks.

As empty nesters, in 1992, Peg and Dar retired to a beautiful home they built on the Intercoastal Waterway near Sunset Beach, North Carolina. They regularly hosted friends and their children and seven grandchildren who were invited to visit to enjoy the waterway and seashore. Peg and Dar traveled extensively to all areas of the globe, including birdwatching trips down the Amazon River, two excursions to Antarctica and India, New Zealand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Europe, every state except Nebraska, and every country in South America (except Paraguay). An accomplished birdwatcher, Peg was an adventurous traveler who embraced local cultures.

In 2005, Peg and Dar moved to an historic house in Wilmington, North Carolina where they became members of Old Wilmington and served as ambassadors to their adopted city. In 2018, they moved to the Pennybyrn retirement community in High Point, North Carolina where Peg enthusiastically joined two bridge clubs which met 2-3 times per week. Her friends at Pennybyrn recall her great sense of humor, her compassion, and her welcoming of new members to the community.

Peg will be cremated and her ashes will be distributed at a later date. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Darwin John Ferry, children Michael John Ferry (Barbara Penfold Ferry), Julie Marie Ferry, and Kelly Ferry Wells (Brandon Forlaw Wells); grandchildren Megan Elizabeth Widener (ne Crockett), Austin Cage Crockett, Rachel Penfold Ferry Boswell, Sydney Eileen Wells, John “Jack” William Ferry, Ethan “E” Hamill Wells, and Ryan Anderson Wells. A great-grandson (Franklin Luke Henry Boswell) is expected in January.

Hanes-Lineberry Sedgefield Chapel is honored to serve the Ferry family.