Murray Gordon Ferguson biography
Written by his sister Anne R. Ferguson 5/2/91
MURRAY GORDON FERGUSON "Chub"
Born May 21, 1928 in the Everett General Hospital, Everett, Wash. USA
A twin. His twin Neal Douglas was born five minutes earlier.
Seventh child of Anna May McFarlane Ferguson and William Henry Ferguson.
Attended Everett Schools: Washington Grade School, North Junior High School and Everett High School, graduating in June, 1946.
University: University of Washington, BA Degree in ___________,1951?
Baptized and put on the Cradle Roll of the First United Presbyterian Church at 25th and Hoyt Avenues in Everett, the Reverend Howard Jamieson, minister.

Sports from his earliest years--from the games marbles, kick the can, bike riding, work-up softball to organized sports Basketball and Baseball, playing forward in Bsktball and pitcher in Baseball at EHS. Lively interest continues, particularly in following and watching U of W Husky sports.

Worked as school boy : delivered for Hall's Pharmacy in the Med/Dent. bldg on Colby Ave. substituted for Neal at Ekho Drug Store.

Colby Bakery at 21st and Colby..did clean up after the bakers.

Road crew on Steven's Pass for Mr. Templeton

Did he work in a mill? a paper route?

Bookish child. High School was Editor of the paper, "The Kodak"

Entered US Navy, particularly for the opportunity to attend college on the GI Bill. World War II was over. San Diego boot camp, with high school friend Chuck Hilen...Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Ill.

Met future wife Betty in ninth grade at No. Jr. High. Neal told him of a new girl who had gone to Perpetual Help Catholic School and now was in the public school. They dated others, but attraction to one another kept returning. Following the Navy and the university, Elizabeth Clare Hausmann and Murray were married on Dec. 1951 in Everett at Immaculate Conception Church. Betty was teaching high school English to wayward girls in Seattle, The Good Shepherd School?

Murray began to work with the Boeing Aerospace Comp. His entire career was with the same company. He retired on Feb. 01, 1991.

Murray and Betty have seven children
Thomas Francis1952
Anne Louise1954
Peter Douglas1955
William Andrew1958
John Linden1960
Robert Watson1965
Daniel McFarlane1968


Tom was a serious child, loving learning. He attended parochial schools in Seattle, graduating from Seattle Prep. Tom enjoyed the outdoors in the Northwest. Along with the Mountaineers, he climbed. He climbed the state's highest peak, Mt. Rainier.

Tom attended Columbia University, New York, as a Merit Scholar. Upon graduation he worked for Columbia as a recruiter. Tom married Cherilynn Gunderson of San Jose, CA, his sister Annie's dearest friend from college days at Santa Clara University. After marrying, Tom returned to the Wharton School of Business in Pittsburgh, PA earning a Masters in Business, plus his Certified Public Accountant's credentials--all but serving the year of experience in Accounting.

Tom took work in San Francisco in the banking field. He and Cherielyn make their home in Piedmont, CA where they are raising Gregory (born in 1981) and Elizabeth (born in 1985).

Gregory, another studious child, is skilled in his school work, with a great interest in Art, enjoying drawing. He is very good at detailed, authentic pictures, particularly of animals. In 1991, Gregory came to Seattle and attended Catholic Youth Camp in the summer, imitating the pleasant experience his father had as a boy.

Elizabeth is much more sociable and talkative. She shows good imagination. Elizabeth likes to imitate Gregory with drawing. The parents expose their children to many opportunities for learning, such as museums, performances and zoos.

Both children are well skilled at visiting and conversing.

Cherilyn has chosen to be a full time homemaker. Her university training was in Theater Arts with a minor in Mathematics. Cherielyn enjoys the creativity of playwriting. She began a home business in home furnishings and decorating.

Annie's schooling in Seattle was culminated at Holy Names Academy. She took her BA degree in Theater Arts at Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA. Annie continued her education at the University of Indiana, Bloomington, IN, earning her Master's and Doctorate in Theater Arts, finishing in 1987.

During the summers of Annie's college days, she worked in Catholic Youth Camps doing wonderful outdoor activities: canoeing and hiking at advanced levels. Like her brother Tom, Annie was a mountaineer, climbing to the peak of Mt. Rainier. Another summer job for Annie was selling school uniforms in different communities in Western Wash.

Theater Arts graduates find few opportunities to work in their field. Annie, following her doctorate, attended Columbia University, New York, earning Librarian's credentials. Annie was hired by Yale University, New Haven, CT to be on their Library Staff.

In 1987, Annie married Paul Constantine of New York State. Paul and Annie were classmates in graduate school at the Univ. of Indiana. Following Paul's getting his Ph D in Theater Arts, he, too, attended Columbia University earning Librarian's credentials. Like Annie, Yale University employs him as a librarian! Paul brought a much needed skill to Yale. He has been converting their card file system to a compu-terized form, no easy task.

Joy arrived for Annie and Paul in April, 1990. Clare Elizabeth was born. We out West do not know her much, but reports of family who have visited in New Haven attest to Clare being wonderful.

Peter, following eight years at St. Ann's School on Queen Anne Hill, chose to go to public high school. He graduated from Queen Anne High School. Peter's Aunt Anne met a woman in SeaTac airport that turned out to be Peter's English teacher. Upon learning of Anne's connection with Peter, the woman could not offer high enough praise for Peter as a student and a wonderful boy.

Peter, quiet in a group where he is not very well acquainted, is the clown of the family. As a child, he was personified by the football fight song, "California Here I Come" sung with gusto! Another side of him is his quick willingness to help each and every one in the family.

When Peter was attending high school, Betty would drop him off at the steps as she was heading for her teaching job. The youngest, Danny, was in the car, going to kindergarten. Betty was ill at ease leaving Peter to walk up the stairs through the toughs who loitered and smoked.

Peter was about halfway up the stairs when Danny had rolled down the window, hollering, "PETER!! you didn't kiss me good-bye!" Betty cringed, thinking what those kids on the steps would remark....BUT without a hitch, Peter turned about, came down the steps and gave Danny a kiss. What a guy.

Combining working and school, Peter completed his degree at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Peter put in arduous summers in Alaska, working in the fish canning industry. It was his source of income to finance his schooling. Peter earned his CPA credentials, upon completing a year in a Seattle Accounting firm. He has worked for a few offices, all in Seattle. Peter is working in his field, but alertly watching for the opportunity that will be just the work location and assignment he wants. He owns his own home in the Wallingford section of Seattle. Wisely, he rents a room to a tentant to help with the mortgage.

When Peter was ready to finish high school, there was a conversa-tion about what persons planned for their lives. One of the younger children turned to Peter and asked him what he wanted to be. Peter roared, "I'm gonna be a Swingin' Single!" How much he swings, I can't say, but Peter is a very eligible single.

Work, family activities, girls and Husky football with occasional hikes in remote areas fill his time. Peter is great to look in on "the old folks" to see that all is well. The night before Income Tax deadline, he stopped in to be sure his dad would get his filing done on time. It was late in the evening, Murray had just finished his report.....Peter took it to mail it...typical of his consideration.

Bill is very skilled in Mathematics. He became infatuated with the new fangled machines: computers. His interest was captured by the Macintosh. Bill became so absorbed that his dad was concerned. It worried Murray that Bill could enjoy his isolation and absorbtion with that computer.

Bill worked and learned for several years, taking his computer to Ketchikan, AK when he went up in the summers to work in the fish canning trade. Eventually, after finishing his degree at North Seattle Community College, he was hired to run the Computer Lab at North Seattle Community College.

More recently, the software giant Microsoft hired Bill...smart company...Bill, who is a patient, calm teacher, can explain complex ideas very effectively. He is responsible to give assistance to customers of these expensive programs. Bill tells them how to get started or what procedures they have done to get mixed up, or what their next steps should be.

Bill lives in Seattle and like so many Fergusons before him, has yet to marry. He, too, has enjoyed numerous outdoor adventures, such as hiking and biking.

John is the expert machinest in the family. John continues to work in the fish cannery in Ketchikan. John has the responsible assignment to be sure the fish is cooked in the exact way it must be. The job is exacting and carries big consequences, were he to err. John is well regarded in his work.

John has his own home in SW Seattle. Bicycling is a passion for John. He bicycled in France on his 1990 vacation.

The main thrust of Murray & Betty's lives has been the raising of this fine large family. Both Murray and Betty were committed to a loving home, devout worship in Christ and the value of a good education. Combined with these three important tenets was a love of the extended family, abiding affection for friends and neighbors, an active interest in govenmental affairs, a love of Sports and sociability.

5/02/91 Murray, this is incomplete, as you can tell. I have stories in my memory to add. I have the names of your children and their spouses and children to add. I have to put in the crisis of health last year. Plus many other ideas. This just whets your interest!
Murray has a passion for photographs of all of the family. He takes pride in keeping almost every letter he has ever received. He takes and shares pictures of neighbor children in church and neighborhood events. He enjoys his collection of paintings.

The best part of a newspaper or other written material for Murray is to send it to the person for whom it will be of the most interest. He has sent countless envelopes of clippings to loved ones and friends.
-Anne R. Ferguson