Dr. James Hunter Ferguson

Dr. James Hunter Ferguson, husband of Dr. Heather Stark and resident of Harborton, Va., passed away in the early morning of Wednesday November 25th, 2009. Born in Ayr, Scotland on October 28th, 1934, he was the second son of William ("Willie") Ker and Anne Bishop Ferguson (nee "Hunter"). A native of Scotland, he graduated with his medical and surgical degree, MBChB, from Glasgow University and later advanced to obtain a specialty in orthopedic surgery. He was a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons as well as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada. He served as an orthopedic surgeon and staff member at Shore Memorial Hospital since 1995. Prior to practicing surgery he was also a member of the faculty at the University of Alberta and The University of Western Ontario, where he researched and taught physiology. While in Scotland, Dr. Ferguson served with the Royal Marines. In 1962 he immigrated to Canada and joined the Canadian Navy as a Lieutenant and Medical Officer. He served in the Atlantic Fleet and he was jointly posted with the U.S. Navy on several occasions, including part of the fleet that engaged in the Cuban Missile crisis. After formal military service and while practicing medicine in Canada, he continued his involvement with the military as a reservist in the Canadian Army, serving as a Captain and Medical Officer with the First Hussars. He was also a Mason and a member of the Royal Canadian Legion. In addition to Heather, he is survived by: six children, Shelly Ferguson of Harborton, Va., Alexandra Lewis and her husband Grant of Washington, D.C., Ker Ferguson and his spouse Cindy of Mobile, Al., Drew Ferguson and his spouse Jeanette of Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada, Jane Wheat of London, Ontario, Canada, Fiona Ferguson and her spouse Robert Mitchell of Abbottsford, British Columbia, Canada; a mother-in-law, Roberta Stark-Chevers of Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, Canada; sister-in-law Bonnie Easterbrook of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; two brothers-in-law, Malcolm Stark and his wife Doris and Bill Stark, both of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada; seven grandchildren, Ashley, Brittany, Amelia and Owen Ferguson, Derek and Darren Wheat and Erica Benedetti; two great-grandsons, Eli and Giovanni; nine nieces and two nephews, Rachael, Sarah, Katie, Julianna, Amy, little Roberta, Lisa and Laura, all of Canada and Annette, Ian and David of Scotland; five grandnephews and one grandniece Ian, Cheryl, Jonathan, Simon, Craig and Ross, all of Scotland; and three great-grandnieces and one great-grandnephew, Ellie, Mitchell, Amelia and Laura, also of Scotland. A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. from the St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 25236 Coastal Blvd., Onley, VA 23418. Father Rodrigo Mingollo will officiate. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to the S.P.C.A Animal shelter, P.O. Box 164, Onley, Va. 23418. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.doughtyfuneralhome.com Arrangements were made by Doughty Funeral home in Exmore, Virginia.