Mary Ann "Dolly" Ferguson

Mary Ann “Dolly” Ferguson, age 86, of New Galilee, PA died on August 10, 2024. She was born in Pittsburgh, PA on May 2, 1938 and was the daughter of the late William and Caroline Schussler Dorsch. She was the wife of the late Glenn Elmer Ferguson, Sr., who died on March 28, 2009.

Dolly is survived by her children, Joann (the late Thomas) Palkovich of New Castle, PA; Jackie Corbin of New Galilee, PA; Joe Ray (Judy) Lefevers of Rodgers, OH; Glenn Elmer Ferguson, Jr. of New Galilee, PA; James Ferguson of New Galilee, PA; eight grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren.

Dolly was an amazing woman. She was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, and mentor. She is the reason we are who we are today. She was a strong woman, not restricted by being a woman, let alone a farmer’s wife. She raised her children and many others. She was tough, but fair. “I cannot”, wasn’t an option. You figured it out.

She made some strong-willed, strong-minded, independent people. We all thank her for that. She trained horses when women didn’t do that. With that being said, she got some rank beasts, and she had to figure it out. She raised hogs, cows, chickens, mean geese, turkeys, and boarded dogs. There wasn’t much she didn’t do.

She couldn’t read music but could play anything by ear. Her specialty was the organ and musical saw. She started Echo Valley Morgan Horse Farm in 1978. She raised Devan Morgans, purchasing her foundation stock from Merle Evans dispersal sale. She had some of the best-minded horses around. She nurtured our passion for horses. We go our first pony at the age of three and he attempted to kill us. If you got hurt, she would check it out and say, “It’s too far from your heart to kill you”. We got our first Morgan at five years old. There is so much more, but this gives you an idea of the woman she was in this world. She is seeing Grandpap, and riding Devan Wesley in heaven. She will be terribly missed, but we will meet again.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, September 1, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the family farm, 260 Echo Valley Road, New Galilee, PA 16141. Friends may bring a covered dish, but that is optional. Arrangements are being cared for by Campbell’s Chippewa Funeral Home, Inc., 2618 Darlington Road, Beaver Falls, PA 15010 (Randy R. Wheeler, supervisor, 724-843-2500).

To share a memory or condolence, please visit www.campbellfuneralhomes.com