Douglas Ferguson

On Wednesday, August 14th, 2024, Douglas Graham Ferguson(67), passed away peacefully at his Bear Creek Services home. He was surrounded by the love and adoration of his family and friends, as well as the support of his dedicated BCS staff.

Douglas was born in Germany on December 13th, 1956, to Dr. Richard and Ann Ferguson. Dr. Ferguson and his family lived in Germany while he served his station in the United States Air Force. When his services came to an Honorable end, the family relocated to Rochester MN, where Dr. Richard (Dick) would begin his long career with the Mayo Clinic.

In addition to Dick's career as a respected Mayo Clinic Dr of Rheumatology and Ann's work on various committees and boards, the dedicated parents became staunch advocates and champions for the rights and opportunities for individuals like Douglas to live full and rewarding lives. Douglas was born with Down's Syndrome, a diagnoses that at the time often meant a person would be relegated to an inactive and non-community based life at either at home or (as more frequently and heart-breakingly was the case)institutionalized in state hospitals. Ann and Dick simply demanded a better life for their son and his peers. Because of the desire to see those individuals thrive, they would become a driving force behind the development of inclusion programs for adults with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities. The Fergusons, together with a group of similarly motivated parents like them, began a mission to provide their

children the opportunity to live as independently as possible in staff supported community-based housing. Olmsted ARC-ORAC (which would later become Bear Creak Services), was the result of the research and work put in by the Ferguson's and their like-minded peers. In 1976, ORAC opened their first group home where the children of the founding parents would gain their independence. On the tail of this success, those same parents envisioned additional opportunities for their children and peers to attend school/work training, hold regular jobs out in the community, take part in socially driven activities and be an active members of the greater community to the best of their differing abilities. What followed was the development of other

MN programs for support services, advocacy and community involvement. Non-Profits like The Arc, Ability Building Center(ABC), Adaptive Recreation and PossAbilities continue to operate today, staffed by dedicated and caring individuals, providing support and opportunities for intellectually, developmentally, physically and otherwise differently-abled members of our community.

Douglas was just 19 years old in 1976 when he moved into the newly opened Sixth Street House, becoming one of the "Original 6" people to live in that independent setting. It was there he would meet some of his very best friends and housemates, though not all right away as the original 6. Friends like: Jim, David, Dale, Julie, Amy, Albert and Susan were a very big part of Douglas's amazing life, and he loved each of the dearly. He lived with most of them until their individual passings, and with Susan until just 2 months before he passed when the two lifelong friends were moved away from each other. We send our love out to Susan, who surely misses her beloved friend very much. Douglas also developed lifelong bonds with several dedicated staff persons over the years. One of those individuals was Liz Crawford(Curry) who was also

only 19 when she began working at Sixth Street House just a few months after it opened. Liz found her calling working with Douglas and his peers, and would dedicate her life to the betterment of their lives, one person at a time. For Douglas, she would be one of his favorite people in the world, and he was the same for her. Liz(and later her own family) were warmly welcomed as honorary family to the Fergusons, and would later go on to become Douglas's primary guardian upon Ann's passing. Marty Foss and wife, Gloria(and later their family) were also honorary Ferguson family members, and would serve as co-guardians to Douglas along with Liz. Along with a great home, amazing friends and supportive staff, many services became available

to help increase independence. Among those services available to Douglas and his peers was access to life changing speech therapy. Speech Therapist/Advocate/Hero, Martha Kvols, possessed a unwavering drive to break through communication barriers limiting non-verbal individuals like Douglas. This dedication meant opportunities to access and utilize ground-breaking speech devices and training to assist Douglas in effectively making his needs and desires known. Using a revolutionary communication device called a TouchTalker (for which Liz and Martha attended classes and spent countless hours learning how to operate and program), Douglas was able to communicate in a way that had not been possible before. The TouchTalker consisted of small images and illustrations of recognizable objects/people/activities/foods/etc in place of letters on a standard keyboard and an audible voice to communicate the phrase programmed to each key. Douglas spent many hours learning and practicing with the TouchTalker, eventually becoming quite proficient in its operation. It became his voice, and although cumbersome in todays technological age, the TouchTalker was a miracle which

opened countless doors for him and others with speech difficulties to be active and involved members of our community. Douglas used this device (and as the years went on, the slightly less-cumbersome successors) for decades, up until more recently when his dementia impacted his ability to successfully use it.

Douglas absolutely loved having a job. For many years he worked at RCTC on a cafeteria

cleaning crew made up of several of his peers. For many students(like this writer during her post-secondary senior year of HS) who were lucky enough to attend classes there during his employment (and smart enough to enjoy meals in the RCTC cafeteria), Douglas was a bright spot in their day. His enthusiastic exclamations of recognition and frequent hair tousles had a way of making the recipients feel pretty darn special in that moment, and seeming like an important (although brief) part of his day was an honor. When it came time for his employment there to end, he remained active and working with others in his community at ABC. Although having a job was an important activity for him, most will remember that it was the community aspect that put the smile on our social butterfly's face. Over the years Douglas developed many interests and activities he loved. In his days of living at Sixth Street House, one of his favorite activities was riding his adult sized 3-wheeled bicycle on local trails (or down the middle of the street)with his housemates and staff. It was yellow, had a basket, and even a bell! He was quite the speed demon with it for many years and seemed almost fearless at times. Unfortunately, this tenacity led to a rather serious bike accident in

which he severely injured his knee, requiring surgery and ultimately bringing his biking days to a close.

Another of Douglas's great loves was Music. He was drawn to children's music in general, but had a very special connection with Alvin and The Chipmunks(and more specifically, Alvin and the Chipmunks' Christmas Album). He would often escape to the basement and would then be found sitting cross-legged in his papasan chair, listening to 'Christmas Don't Be Late'...on repeat.

Many of us fondly remember Douglas's discerning culinary tastes, among which his favorite things were Stouffer's Swedish Meatballs and Spinach Soufflé (at the same time preferably), chocolate milk, mashed potatoes w/gravy and KFC Coleslaw. One also mustn't fail to mention his sweet tooth...and a lifelong love affair with 2 very specific Hostess desserts...which raises the question: Just how many Ho-Ho's and/or Twinkies are too many to eat in one day...or better yet, at one sitting?

One of the opportunities Ann and Dick's efforts afforded Douglas's was the ability to go on vacation...and vacation he did! Big or small/long or short, it did really matter, especially if they involved a hotel stay and a hot tub! Over the years he went on many trips by van, bus, boat and plane. He often traveled with his housemates and peers, but quite a few adventures were with his friend Liz, and often her family. Some of those trips included jetting off to Washington DC, Baltimore MD, and Florida(twice, to visit his friend Martha Kvols after she moved away). He also enjoyed dozens of camping(more like Glamping) trips with Liz and her family. In addition to family camping reunions, there were countless summer weekends spent lazing at the family's permanent camper at the Ponderosa Camp Ground on Lake Zumbro. Now, Douglas had a very strong aversion for being in the water (or getting wet in general, especially on his face) but if he could be safe and dry ON the water(say, on a boat?), he was very much on board with that! Some very fun memories involve Douglas's enthusiastic attempts at driving the family pontoon, decked out in a life jacket, big hat and super cool sun glasses. He felt he was a

pretty big deal in those moments, and he really truly was.

Douglas was always excited for holidays, especially Christmas, and prior to Ann's passing, holidays were always spent at the Ferguson home being spoiled by his doting Mom and Dad. Those holidays almost always included other loved ones and friends, including Liz (and daughter) and the Foss'(and their 3 children). Following Ann's passing and after Dick moved to the Charter House, holidays and weekends were then spent at Liz's home, where he had his own room and plenty of people to spoil him. He and his best friend Jim were often the guests of honor, especially at Christmas where they had their own stockings and piles of gifts under the tree. He loved being home so much that when it came time to return to his group home, essential items would be suddenly and curiously missing. The missing shoes, jacket, gloves or that would (eventually) be found, usually shoved in the back of a random hole in his endless sneaky attempts to delay, delay, delay. On some very funny occasions, Douglas could be found wearing the shoes belonging to person who was to bring him home(usually Liz), surely with the

hopes that if he was wearing their shoes, then they could not drive him home. Smart guy!

Home visits, trips and outings(with Liz or the Foss family) continued until the last two years when his dementia progressed further and eventual ambulatory limitations made it difficult and often unsafe for him to participate.

Anyone who had the pleasure to meet and know Douglas would say he was a kind, sweet, silly, and happy person (while also sometimes being stubborn, sneaky and a bit of a jokester). Douglas almost always greeted people with joyful exclamations, distinct sounds of recognition and for those he knew especially well, a good tousle of their hair. A simple outing to Apache Mall would frequently be interrupted by people who knew him, just wanting to say hello and have a chance to see him smile. In his lifetime, Douglas amassed hoards of adoring fans and people who loved him endlessly, who are better people because they knew him. Aside from the personal imprint he made on our lives, his existence was the catalyst for the development of services that have benefited countless other individuals in our community. He was our shining star and the world is a little less bright without him.He was preceded in death by his Mother and Father, Aunt Evelyn and family friend/guardian, Marty Foss. He was also preceded in death by many of his dear housemates and friends, including his lifelong Best Friend, Jim Nichols, who he lived with at BCS for 48 years and who left us just this last year.

He is survived by his close friend and primary legal guardian, Liz Crawford(and her children: Amanda Suter and Jordyn Davitt, who grew up with Douglas), close friend and legal guardian, Gloria Foss(and her children: Andrew Foss, Tony Foss and Becky Foss, who also grew up with Douglas) and his dear friend and housemate, Susan.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Ranfranz and Vine Reception and Remembrance Centre on October 10th at 4:00 pm. Light refreshments will be provided, Ho'Ho's and Twinkies included.

Please send memorials in Douglas's Honor to Ability Building Center: https://abcinc.org/donate/

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Ferguson family.