Met Jimmy on the school bus just after he moved into Oak Ridge(1968). I have so many stories, too many. Just a few. When we set the empty lot across the street from his house on fire, he wanted to burn a rabbit’s home. Pine needles, go figure. We did put it out, with a ton of work. The night he rang the bell next to the Friedsam’s house and as we ran from the scene he collided with the black mail box near the street, and ended up flat on his back in the ditch. We laughed so hard we couldn’t talk. He was laughing and screaming in pain. Fortunately no major injuries. Then when he received a BB Gun for Christmas. He wanted to shot rabbits ( he was a big hunter). So we went hunting, found a poor rabbit, he shot the rabbit twice, the bb’s rolled off and the rabbit never even moved. He got so pissed off he threw the gun at the rabbit. Needless to say the rabbits around Oak Ridge were pretty safe.
He was a crazy, fun loving person and will be missed.
God Bless my friend. Love ya!

I met Jimmy in 1970 and we have been friends ever since!  Always quick with a joke or lately a prayer we have stayed in touch all of these years.  We were roommates at Sam Houston for two years and had many adventures and close calls!  One story we always laughed over was when we were on our way to meet friends at of all places the Conroe Ballroom.  Yes Country Western! Now jimmy's uniform of the day was faded blue jeans, a hippie satin shirt and of course the ever present flip flops.  The rest of us were in country attire.   Well we were in Jimmy's old La Mans and he was driving and we had just turned onto the feeder when Jimmy handed me his beer to hold.  That's when he swerved and i looked over at him and he was gone!  His cars driver door would not stay shut and he had fallen out on the pavement and the car slowly rolled to a stop in the ditch.   I am sitting there holding two beers and in shock..... the next thing i know he comes running up a flip flop in hand and a torn shirt hanging on his back, he jumps in the car an off we go two blocks to the ballroom like nothing has happened.... Quite a story for our waiting friends.... I think he got the door fixed after that.   On a more serious note, James was one of the only friends that i could call and ask to pray with me.  He also offered many prayers here in his later years..... Thank YOU James!     (J Boy)

Jimmy always made me laugh! He never took himself too seriously. The last couple of post on my Facebook page he commented about my having freckles  as a high schooler 😉 and he loved me! 
It was the way he made the comment that made me chuckle.  Blessings to his family ... May the Lord comfort you and give you rest! 

The one thing that stands out about Jimmy over the many years of knowing him in school is his laughter and smile.  Surely there were times when he felt otherwise but that was not anything that pervaded his spirit.  He wanted others to be as happy as he and it must have been a life purpose for him.  Recently, we reconnected on Facebook after a very long absence and I was excited to think that his laughter, smile, and jokes were going to fill the room at an upcoming and recent class reunion.  Unfortunately he was not able to make it.  As I am saddened that we won’t hear him laugh again, I am reminded how I learned recently of his strong heart in his relationship w/His Lord Jesus Christ.  We conversed of that in messages sometime back on Facebook.  Thus, I have no doubt of where he is today and I can well imagine that his laughter is permeating through the golden streets of heaven and that we will happily meet some day again.  💕😋 One day his smile will meet me at the gate.  See you again, Jimmy!!  

New Orleans, one of Jimmy's favorite places.  Jimmy and Leva surprised me in New Orleans while at a business meeting.  Started off at Pat O'Briens sipping on Hurricanes and continued on with the party by bar hopping (he knew all the best places).  He was such a fun person, full of life and energy.  Thanks for the memories Jimmy, you will never be forgotten.  May you rest in peace.

Such wonderful, cherished memories of Jimmy and the entire "Oak Ridge Gang".   Yes, he was special, bringing laughter and fun and love to so many of us that grew up with him.   Rest in peace, my friend, fly with the angels.

Jimmy was the Oak Ridge kid who was loved by all- us kids and parents alike.  Such a great sense of humor (hilarious actually).  School bus rides were a lot more entertaining with Jimmy on board. Jimmy, may the angels lead you into paradise.  Prayers for the family...

You were the best Jimmy. For several years it was  Randy, Jimmy and Marti. I remember during the summer Randy working and you coming over to watch Leave It To Beaver. You loved that show. My Dad always said he had never met anyone as funny as you. I will miss you my friend.  I will remember you with a smile and laughter. Rest well Jimmy. 

Rest In Peace my friend. Your humor smile and infectious laughter brought so many smiles to the lives of those who knew you. We made many special memories together through the years. Memories that will always bring a smile to my face and love to my heart for a special friend who will never be forgotten.

We are heartbroken! Jimmy and his family were the 1st friends we made when we moved to Houston in 1998. We look fondly back on all the family time, meals and holidays we spent together over the years. When  we reflect on our memories of Jimmy we can’t help but smile. Jimmy and his shenanigans were world class funny! Remembering our New Orleans trip when he stole the bud beer crate and stood on it on Bourbon Street trying to get tips for our next watering hole; Jimmy choosing Cockeyed Seagull Bar to close on our house; skinny dipping at Leslie (now Sundance Grill) in Waterford Harbour; the family trip to New Braunfels during hurricane Allison in Houston; and of course his wonderful trash and jambalaya he would make. He was a character...always clowning around making you laugh with his shock and awe! But beneath that was a kind, caring, loving person. You will be missed terribly.  Rest In Peace my dear friend...behave up there!

God how I hate that Jimmy is gone. The stories he could tell, I laughed till I cried. He could make ANYTHING funny. I remember when we road the bus home from school, Jimmy would get off at our house to see what we were having for dinner, it was liver and he’d call his Mom and she would be having the same thing.  How he’d go on and on about how he hated liver. I remember the time our Mom would make brownies and we didn’t like nuts in ours, our Mom would make Jimmy his own pan with nuts. Jimmy was very special to our family, he was one of us. Randy and Jimmy had built a fort between our house and his. It was a typical boys fort . They  would  have so much fun and adventures in that old fort. I remember one Halloween, Randy and Jimmy decided to put fake blood all over them and say they were walking through the woods and some big guys jumped them. They came up to our front door, my Mother almost passed out, and they started yelling it was fake blood. 
God they got in trouble. Randy and Jimmy stayed in trouble most of the time. I will miss Jimmy and him telling his funny stories, but I have his memories in my heart and he will always be missed. Some stories can’t be mentioned in this, but damn we all had a great time, “Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body,  but rather to skid in broadside , throughly used up, totally worn out, and proclaiming 
“Wow , what a ride!!!”   Jimmy had the ride of a lifetime. 

OBITUARY

James Ray Ferguson

September 28, 1955 – July 14, 2020

Forest Park East Funeral Home & Cemetery

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