Joe Frank Ferguson was born to Albert Clyde and Mildred Maureen (Thomas) Ferguson on Feb. 20, 1939, in rural Comanche, Oklahoma, and departed this life in Temple, Oklahoma, on July 20, 2026, at the age of 87 years and 5 months.
Joe grew up on a farm southeast of Corum, Oklahoma, attending Diamond School through the eighth grade. He then completed ninth through twelfth grades at Comanche High School, graduating in 1957. While attending CHS, he was highly active in the FFA chapter, serving as chapter president, which instilled a lifelong passion for agricultural education.
After graduating from Comanche, he proudly attended Oklahoma State University, where he completed a double-major bachelor’s degree in Animal Husbandry and Agricultural Education, graduating in 1961. While attending college in Stillwater, he was named Outstanding Senior in both majors. He was a member of the Alpha Zeta honorary agricultural fraternity, president of the Ag Student Council, president and secretary of the Block and Bridle Club, a member of the 1960 Livestock Judging Team under the legendary coach Dr. Bob Totusek, and served as Reporter for the Collegiate FFA chapter.
Joe married Carolyn Jeanette Daniel on June 17, 1961, at First United Methodist Church in Walters. From there, they moved to Morrison for his first teaching job in Vocational Agriculture during the 1961-62 school year, where they started their family with the birth of their son, Larry, in March 1962.
He then taught at Walters High School from 1962-64 before moving to Fort Worth, where he worked for the Packers and Stockyards Administration inspecting fair trade practices at different sale barns across Texas in 1965. They later returned to Oklahoma, where he spent the next seven years teaching Vo-Ag in Marland while pursuing his master’s degree in School Administration.
His final agricultural education position was at Paoli from 1973-74. In 1974, Joe and Carolyn, along with Larry, made their final move to Randlett, Oklahoma, where Joe faithfully served as Superintendent of Schools for Big Pasture Public Schools from 1974-91.
During retirement, he enjoyed helping Larry with farming and ranching operations. He loved being a tractor hand, attending livestock sale barns, and buying stocker calves. Evaluating and sorting quality livestock was one of Joe’s greatest passions, and he was especially skilled at selecting outstanding cattle.
Joe and Carolyn were very active members of the First Methodist Church of Randlett. He served one year as assistant postmaster, was a member of the cemetery board, and served 28 years on the Cotton County Excise Board from 1993-2021.
He enjoyed buying cattle and show pigs and especially treasured spending time with his grandsons, Clayton and Caleb. Joe was extremely proud of both grandsons and never failed to let them know how much he loved them. He always made sure his family was well cared for and faithfully fulfilled his responsibilities in every aspect of their lives.
Joe was a man of deep faith in his Lord Jesus Christ whose integrity and moral principles defined his character. He served as a role model to many of his students and would never hesitate to give the shirt off his back to anyone in need.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Albert Ferguson and Mildred Simon; his wife, Carolyn; his brother, Gene Ferguson; and two nieces, Pam Wohlgemuth and Lee Ann Wolcott.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Gaye Lei Ferguson of Randlett; his brother, Jimmy Ferguson of Comanche; his grandsons and granddaughter-in-law, Clayton and Julia Ferguson, and Caleb Ferguson, all of Randlett; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, former students, faculty, and friends.
