08/30/2018

Obituaries for Michael & Guyla Ferguson

Mother and Father-in-Law of Mitchell Koch, Managing Funeral Director at Koch Funeral Home

Guyla Jean Bailey Ferguson, 51, and Michael “Mike” James Ferguson, age 56, of Tippecanoe, Ohio died unexpectedly in a tragic accident on August 26, 2018.

Shared services will be held for Guyla and Mike. Friends may call on the family Thursday, August 30, 2018 in Deersville United Methodist Church from 2 to 9 p.m. and Friday, August 31, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 1, 2018 in the church with Pastor David Koch officiating. Interment will follow in Patterson Union Cemetery in Deersville.

Guyla is the daughter of Thurman Dwight Bailey and Verla Jean (Tomblin) Bailey of Mineral City. She was born October 21, 1966 in Dover, Ohio.

She was a 1985 graduate of Tusky Valley High School in Mineral City.  Guyla had a varied work history, including retail, grading roses, and government work among other endeavors, before getting her dream job as Personal Assistant to the CEO of Ferguson Farms. She was a sweet spirit who never knew a stranger. She loved trying new things and had a passion for everything she did. Guyla loved taking road trips with her mom, having lunch with friends, taking photographs, gardening, spending time with her grandchildren, and just being outside. She was a lover of animals, and is survived by Shadow, Gracie, and Sierra.
On January 16, 2010, Guyla married Michael James Ferguson, the love of her life, who lost his life in the same tragic accident. Together they were avid motorcyclists and loved to ride Mike’s Harley-Davidson. They enjoyed traveling, camping, and trail riding on their side by side. Whether working or playing, the two were always together, so it’s only fitting they arrived at the gates of heaven together as well.

Also surviving are two special daughters who she loved as her own: Shannone (Mitchell) Koch of Gnadenhutten, Tonya (Dustin) Dean of Tippecanoe; five grandchildren: Mallorie, Cooper, Piper, Maverick, and Harper; a beloved brother: Dwight (Brenda) Bailey of Beach City; three nieces: Tyonnie Gatschet of Brewster, Tabatha (Shane) Tully of Navarre, Cheyenne (Erik) Vuchkovich of Navarre; and numerous special aunts, uncles, great-nieces, and great-nephews. Guyla will be missed by family, countless colleagues, neighbors, and friends.

The family encourages donations to your favorite charity in memory of Guyla.

Michael was the son of the late James “Jim” Lawrence and Hazel Bernice Smith Ferguson. He was born October 15, 1961 in Dennison, Ohio.

Mike attended high school at Lakeland High School in Freeport and in Ojia, California, but school was never really his thing. Mike was a dedicated worker with a brilliant mind, who found his place in construction. He was a member of the Ohio Operating Engineers and worked at several construction companies over the years.  Currently he worked as an Area Superintendent for Beaver Excavating Company of Canton, Ohio, where he had been employed for the last seventeen years.  He was a dedicated farmer, continuing to work the land his family has owned for over 150 years. He loved his Allis-Chalmers tractors and still used his father’s 1950’s models to farm today.

Born January 16, 2010, Mike married Guyla Jean Bailey Ferguson, the love of his life, who lost her life in the same tragic accident. Together, they were avid motorcyclists and loved to ride their Harley-Davidson. They enjoyed traveling, camping, and trail riding on their side by side. Whether working or playing, the two were always together, so it’s only fitting they arrived at the gates of heaven together as well.

Mike is survived by his pride and joy, two daughters: Shannone (Mitchell) Koch of Gnadenhutten, Tonya (Dustin) Dean of Tippecanoe; five grandchildren: Mallorie, Cooper, Piper, Maverick, and Harper; a brother, Lawrence (Janet) Ferguson of Dayton; two sisters: Cynthia (Ron) Deeter of Malvern and Colleen (Ken) Shaffer of New Philadelphia; numerous nieces and nephews. Mike will be missed by family, countless colleagues, neighbors, and friends.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a brother, Sydney Ferguson.

The family encourages donations in Mike’s memory to the Harrison County 4-H Youth Program or your favorite charity.