MILDRED (MICKEY) DOREEN FERGUSON (SMITH)

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MILDRED (MICKEY) DOREEN FERGUSON (nee SMITH) August 23, 1929 - October 27, 2018 Winnipeg lost a trailblazer with the passing of Mickey Ferguson. The exceptional nature of Mom started at the Kelvin ball fields as one of the top pitchers in town. She loved to play and once the weekends came she would take the train to Grand Beach with her lifelong best friend Doreen. After a few years in the Canadian Air Force Mom married and had three great kids, Greg, Cindy (Siri Fomsgaard) and Danielle Pond who survive her and will miss her more than words can possibly describe. Mom is also survived by her constant companion, her dog Maggie and her grandchildren, Natalie (Dejan Velaja) and Tyler Klapecki who all cherished their Grandma Susie. Mickey was an avid reader and lived a full life; she thoroughly enjoyed working and politics and her home was always open to anyone who needed a safe place to stay. The understated nature of her generosity of spirit and home were also reflected in her career choices. In collaboration with Professor (at the time) Lloyd Axworthy the Alcohol Family Services Centre came about helping inner-city families deal with addiction and giving teens a safe place to hang out. As Executive Director she drove the vision of treating families as a whole entity. Next up, Executive Director of Career Opportunities II, also ahead of its time, recognized in the 1970s that women would be heading into the workforce and positioned the skills women 35+ obtained running a household and provided training for workforce entry. Her last stint was with the St. Norbert Foundation as a researcher/ grant writer. On top of all these things she worked tirelessly on Axworthy and other Liberal election campaigns and was later in charge of the east Winnipeg electoral district. She retired only due to health reasons creeping in at the young age of 79 and would often say how much she missed it. She is predeceased by her loving parents, James and Margaret Smith and her best friend since six years old, Doreen Sanderson Ward. Mom's final requests were no service, to reside in San Diego with Cindy and Maggie, and for those who loved her to play Sinatra's "My Way". www.voyagefuneralhomes.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 03, 2018