Verona Obituary: Margery Ferguson, Community Volunteer, 'The Ultimate Hostess'

Verona, NJ – Former Verona resident Margery Ferguson passed away on April 2.

The following obituary comes courtesy of the Hugh M. Moriarty Funeral Home:

“Margery Gillett Ferguson passed away peacefully at home in the arms of her beloved husband, Richard, on April 2, 2016 in North Caldwell, NJ. She was 93 years old. Margery Ruth Gillett was born June 4, 1922 in Long Beach California to Ruth Adams Gillett and Walter Kirkland Gillett. She was raised in West Orange, NJ and graduated from Columbia High School, Maplewood. As a child, she and her sister, Eleanor, vacationed with their parents in Maine and at the New Jersey shore.

“After Marge graduated from The Parsons School of Design in New York City, Kresge Department Store in Newark hired her as a member of the visual display crew. Due to wartime shortages, all displays were constructed of paper rather than fabric. Because of her exceptional skill as a paper sculptor, she was subsequently hired as a designer for Marquardt Paper Manufacturers, NYC where she took a leadership role and shared her expertise, lecturing in northern NJ. She loved commuting to Manhattan by ferry and often stayed with family and friends to explore the city. She met her husband, Richard Carl Ferguson, while attending a house party at Wesleyan University, and again at a wedding of mutual friends. Because of gas rationing, he rode his bicycle from Montclair to Maplewood to court her. They were married in 1945 shortly before Richard graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.

“After Richard began practicing in Montclair, NJ, they lived in Verona where their first two children, Gordon and Kim were born. During the Korean War, he joined the Air Force Dental Corps and the family moved to Valparaiso, FL where Douglas was born. After his service, they moved back to Verona and then to Upper Montclair in 1953, where they lived for 50 years.

“Marge was active in the Junior League, PTA, bridge club, scouting and taught Sunday School at Union Congregational Church. She also played golf and tennis, and was an avid reader and puzzle solver. She shared her love of beauty as a watercolorist into her 80’s, painting still life, landscape and portraits. She rendered beautiful depictions of people’s homes, as gifts and on commission. She patiently taught painting to neighborhood children and later to seniors in her condominium complex in Stuart, FL. She was also skilled with sewing, embroidery and needlepoint. Her many paintings and other creations, including knitted and needlepoint Christmas stockings, pillows and wall-hangings, grace the homes of her family and friends.

“A team in every sense of the word, Marge and Dick were the ultimate hostess and host in Montclair and at their homes in Normandy Beach, NJ and Stuart, FL. She loved to cook and entertain and they welcomed everyone and with laughter, food and drink, all seeming effortless. She spent many hours gazing into Barnegat Bay as she prepared crabmeat fresh from the crab traps for dinner while he roasted clams on the grill. They celebrated New Years Eve with the same group of friends for over 50 years and hosted their condo’s Annual Super Bowl Party in Stuart. They built many wonderful memories for their adored grandchildren in Normandy Beach, and in Florida. They loved to play golf at Montclair Golf Club and Indian River Plantation, and gathered for Bridge regularly into their late 80’s. They traveled extensively with the Penn Dental Group and with friends. They were the best dancers at their grandchildren’s weddings. Marge was a genuine natural beauty with a keen and vibrant sense of humor, a ready smile with and sparkling personality. She was a generous and kind lady who was loved by all who knew her.

“Marge was pre-deceased by her parents and sister, Eleanor Blauvelt, and is survived by Richard Carl Ferguson, her cherished husband of 71 years, three children: Gordon Alan Ferguson (Ann), Kim Ferguson Snyder (Colby), Douglas Richard Ferguson, 5 grandchildren: David Ian Ferguson (Kelly), Michael Andrew Ferguson (Gail), Mark Gillett Ferguson (Melanie), Lindsey Snyder Hogan (Patrick), Scott Ferguson Snyder, 9 great-grandchildren: Lucy, Jack and Tillie Ferguson, Millie and Gus Ferguson, Shiloh and Gretchen Ferguson and Caroline and Charlie Hogan and also her nieces and nephews. A celebration of Marge’s life is scheduled for this summer. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her name to The Montclair Art Museum (www.montclairartmusem.org) or the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens (www.presbyirisgardens.org).”

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