Dr. James Weldon Fergus passed away peacefully at Timber Ridge Briarwood Health Center in Issaquah, Washington on September 5, 2021, at the age of 88. He was born in October, 1932 and grew up in Falls City, Nebraska. Jim attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he was an active member of the Theta Xi fraternity and ROTC program. While attending UNL, he met Frances Joan and they were married on August 21, 1955. He completed his medical degree at the University of Nebraska Medical School in Omaha, Nebraska. After completing his internship in Tacoma, Washington and his residency in St. Paul, Minnesota, the couple settled in Portland, Oregon where they raised two children. He built a successful medical practice specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology and was also involved as an officer at the national level of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Jim was a private pilot, sailor, an avid reader, sportsman and enjoyed playing bridge in his free time. When he retired from his medical practice, the couple moved to their cabin on Blakely Island, Washington. Jim enjoyed innumerable construction projects, hosting friends and family, sailing, crabbing, and other island pursuits. Jim and Joan split their time living between Blakely Island, Washington and SaddleBrooke Ranch, Arizona. They traveled and enjoyed numerous trips and cruises abroad, local Nordic Tug rendezvous weekends and Born Free motorhome rallies and trips in the United States. Currently, they had relocated to Timber Ridge, a senior living community in Issaquah, Washington, so they could be closer to family.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents John and Agnes Fergus. Jim is survived by his wife Joan, son David (Mary Beth), daughter Debra (Kevin), five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A private family Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Jim will forever be missed. We fondly remember him navigating his Nordic Tug in the San Juan Islands and his Choey Lee sailboat in the Caribbean. May the wind be always at his back and may the sun shine warm upon his face!
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Dr. James W. Fergus’ name to Seattle Pacific University – Blakely Island Field Station. (https://give.spu.edu. Please type in “Blakely Island Field Station” under “Other”.) To contact the family, please MAIL condolences or memorial donations to: David Fergus, 8419 Tracyton Blvd NW, Bremerton, WA, 98311; or EMAIL: JFergusCondolences@gmail.com.
