Patrick Ronald "Ronnie" Ferguson

Patrick Ronald Ferguson (Ronnie), age 84, of Yuma, AZ, passed away May 01, 2024, at Yuma Regional Medical Center. Patrick was born on July 2,1939, the youngest of five children to his parents Frank & Beatrice Ferguson, settlers & first-generation farmers in North Gila Valley. He grew up working on the farm.

Patrick graduated from Yuma High School in 1957 & then from Arizona State College (now NAU) in 1961 with a bachelor’s degree in Biology, & minors in Earth Science & Social Sciences. He met his future bride at Arizona State College, Natalie Elizabeth Brown, & they married in 1962, & had three children, Karen Marie, Patrick Ronald Jr., & Teresa Lynn.

Patrick continued at Arizona State College (NAU) & gained his master's degree in the Teaching of Biology & minor in Education in 1964, and desired to return to Yuma to teach. No teaching positions were available at the time. He took his first teaching job in Ajo, Arizona in 1964, where he taught Driver’s Education for one year, then General Science & Life Science the next year. In 1966, an opening was available in Yuma, so he returned to his hometown & began teaching at Yuma High School. For 19 years he taught General Science, Biology, Honors Biology, Ecology, Field Biology & Desert Biology. He especially enjoyed teaching his honors biology classes. In his last two years at Yuma High, Patrick taught Government & Free Enterprise, then retired from teaching after 20 years.

In addition to teaching, Patrick was a farmer in North Gila, putting time into farming after school & on the weekends. He farmed various crops from 1966-73, & in 1973 planted lemon trees, which he tended for the next 30 years.

Patrick was an avid hunter & fisher, & enjoyed many hunting & fishing adventures with his family & friends. He bagged a big horn sheep & a buffalo, & countless other game like animals & birds. Patrick enjoyed deep sea fishing out of San Diego, CA & would go 1-2 times each year for many years. Patrick was an active & lifetime member of the Yuma Rod & Gun Club. He was also a lifetime member of the Yuma Masonic Lodge No. 17.

Patrick was preceded by his parents Frank & Beatrice, his brothers Frank Junior (Specks), James, A.W. (Swede), & sister (Mae).

Patrick is survived by his wife of 61 years Natalie, children Karen, Patrick (former wife Anne) & Teresa (Duane Bosley); grandchildren Jessica Houpe, Andrew Ferguson, Olivia Ferguson, Bryan Bosley, Brett Bosley, nephews & nieces Frank Ferguson III, Steve Ferguson, Preston Munn, Donny Crump (deceased), Jerry Crump, Nora Abernathy, Diane Ferguson, Larry Ferguson, Stephen Brown, Deborah Brown, & great-nephews & nieces James Ferguson, Justin Ferguson, Jason Ferguson, Shane Crump, Kody Crump, Sarah Crump, Frank Ferguson IV, Leslie Ferguson, Andy Ferguson, Lance Ferguson, and Pam Ferguson.

A memorial service will be held at Johnson Mortuary on June 8th at 10 am.