Dennis Jay Ferguson

Dennis Jay Ferguson, of Old Union, left this earth while at his home, in the early morning hours of Friday, April 5, 2019, to celebrate his 58th birthday in Heaven.

David Bates, who was Dennis’ cousin and was as close as a brother to Dennis, will officiate at the memorial service, which will be Saturday, April 13, at 2 p.m, at Prairie Grove Baptist Church. Visitation with the family will precede the service; and lunch will be at noon. Interment of the urn containing Dennis’ ashes will be at LaSalle Cemetery following the service.

Dennis and his twin sister, Denise, were born April 5, 1961, in Mexia, to Charles Cleve and Joyce Ferguson, of Mexia. Dennis and Denise were the middle of three sets of twins born to their parents.

Dennis took to things naturally from an early age, from starring as Humpty Dumpty in the Forest Glade school play in first or second grade, to hunting and fishing at the age of 5, when the guns and fishing reels were bigger than he was. When Dennis was about 12, while deer hunting in Ozona, he killed a deer that was running away from him, from over 300 yards. Someone observed that for someone that age, and the conditions at the time, that shot was one of the best he had ever seen. Some of Dennis’ ashes will be spread in places where he loved to hunt and fish.

Dennis loved sports in general, but baseball was his favorite. From his pee-wee to pony league years, and even on to high school, Dennis’ time was spent on the baseball fields of Mexia. During most of Dennis’ years playing baseball, his father was his coach. Whether he won or lost didn’t matter: Dennis always felt like a winner even before the games started, because of all the lasting friendships he made over the years. Win or lose, good or bad, through thick and thin, the foul balls hitting cars, the games of cup ball behind the bleachers, running the bases after the game. Those who knew Dennis well are confident that he and his friend and baseball mentor, Louie Masters, are enjoying the Ranger games in Heaven.

Dennis was a longtime employee of XTO Energy. He also enjoyed shooting pool and playing “42.”

Dennis was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, A.E. and Lola Ferguson, of Personville; his maternal grandparents, J.R. and Margaret Coe; a very special niece and nephew, Rachel Smith and Blake McIntire; many aunts and uncles, including a very special uncle, Jimmy Ferguson, with whom Dennis hunted from a very early age; also many cousins and friends.

Dennis is survived by his parents, Cleve Ferguson, of Old Union, and Joyce Killingsworth, of Mexia; his son, Charles “Cleve” Ferguson II, of Corsicana, Chad Ferguson and two children, of Southwest Texas; his girlfriend, Lori Anderson, of Old Union; his brother, Gary (Sherry) Ferguson, of Mexia; his sisters, Brenda (Dr. Sherr) Rahaman, of Henderson, Linda Smith, of Mexia, Denise (Robert “Toad”) Winstead, of Old Union, Paula (Carl) Matthison, of Teague, and Pam Ferguson, of Mexia; paternal aunts Beverly Ferguson, of Mexia, and Chelsia Taylor, of Lake Limestone; many nieces and nephews, many cousins, co-workers and friends, including his best friend, Robbie Spillers.

The family thanks Groesbeck Funeral Home for taking care of arrangements; also Prairie Grove Baptist Church for their prayers and meal.