Mr. John Charles Ferguson III

Roll through my chant with all thy lawless music thy swinging lamps at night, Thy madly-whistled laughter, echoing, rumbling like an earthquake, rousing all"  ~ Walt Whitman

Born on September 21,1947 in Webster Groves, Missouri, John Charles Harris Ferguson III passed away peacefully on May 5, 2024 after an extended battle with cancer. He was a talented artist, a proud father, and beloved by all. 

A long-time resident of the area, he was a diehard St. Louis Cardinals fan from the beginning. 

At an early age, he began to pursue his interest in Art. One of his best paintings, created when he was merely a teenager, featured a somber portrait of a chimpanzee dressed in a black and white prison suit, amidst a dense jungle. 

In 1966, Dan Rather with CBS News came to John's hometown to film a documentary “16 in Webster Groves”. The CBS crew employed John to work on the film as a runner boy and locate teens to interview, that was John’s first big break. He even was featured as one of the “wild ones”  in a clip at Oliver Deuser's barber shop on Lockwood, getting a haircut and sporting his wonderful smile with his big silver tooth.  

A true artist who thrived in the ‘60s and ‘70s, his art has been displayed across the country. He was a sculptor, and focused on bronze casting. 

John further perfected his artistic skills when he attended and graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1971. A true artist, he created numerous bronze castings such as Johnny Angel 1973,cast bronze crustaceans, several political portraits, Leda and Swan, and a life size Toulose Goose, all created with grace and  intricate details.

Born a true orator and champion of the people, he was appreciated by those who knew him well, and those who barely knew him at all. Being well-versed in the arts and construction allowed him to travelfreely throughout the US during his life, which led to vast experiences across the American frontier where he was able to touch many with his wisdom. 

In his long life, he travelled the trails of life from East to West coast, bursting into the dark midnight, ready to rumble like a true tomcat. In this mysterious universe we all live in, John embraced all the unanswered existential questions. Who are we? Where are we? Why are we here? During his lifetime, he humbly began to discover and experience the meaning of what he coined the 'Great Riddle'.

A true man of his word, he stood up for those in need and wasn’t afraid to stand ground on his own views. John gracefully comforted the world around him through his captivating tales of his wild adolescence and life achievements. 

John is survived by his beloved son Cyrus Ferguson, daughter Sarah, brother Phillip Kelly, and his manyfriends who will remember him fondly as a unique individual with a wonderful soul. 

A friend is someone who shows you a side of yourself you never knew you had...until they came into your life. And we are all better for having had John in our lives

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