Larry R Ferguson

It is fitting and symbolic that Larry Ross Ferguson, 87, will be laid to rest in the same Oklahoma soil that shaped his life. Born in Pawnee, raised, educated and married in the heart of Pawnee County, devoted to its people every step of the way, he built a life grounded in service, commitment, and community. From carrying on the family newspaper business that long stood on Main Street in two Pawnee County towns, to representing Pawnee County in the Oklahoma House of Representatives for two decades, his legacy is woven into the very fabric of the place he proudly called home.

Born on October 4, 1937, to Jo Orval Ferguson and Annabelle Stogsdill Ferguson, Larry was the youngest of three children and something of a surprise blessing. His older siblings, David Jo and Dolores, were already in their teens when he came along, and his parents were both in their late forties. He grew up in Pawnee, where he graduated from Pawnee High School in 1955. A standout athlete and popular student, Larry left an impression on nearly everyone he met. He made an even bigger impression when he began dating Nina Gay Flanagan, the most talked-about new girl in town, during his 8th grade year. They married in 1957, beginning a love story that would last a lifetime. Larry and Nina Gay were married for 65 years, before her death in 2022.

After high school, Larry attended the University of Oklahoma, where he quickly joined the Army ROTC program, proudly continuing a family tradition of service to the country. He briefly played basketball for OU, a testament to his athletic ability and competitive spirit.

Larry graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1960 with a degree in journalism, the same year he and Nina Gay welcomed their first child, Lori. After graduation, the young couple moved to Fort Sill in Lawton, where Larry continued his military career and their second child, Rusty, was born the following year.

In 1962, the Fergusons moved to Cleveland, Oklahoma, where Larry took over the family newspaper, The Cleveland American. Larry enjoyed being a fixture on Main Street, running the paper and becoming an active voice in the community. He joined civic clubs, served in leadership roles, and was a faithful member of the First Christian Church. Their third child, Kari, was born after they settled in Cleveland, completing the young family.

As editor of The Cleveland American, Larry rarely missed a Cleveland Tiger game, concert, or school event. He was a sideline staple for years, chronicling the highs and lows of small-town life. He loved the Cleveland Tigers, though he always carried the Pawnee Black Bears in his heart, where his own story began.

Larry believed in the power of words and the importance of ideas. Each Thursday, readers of The Cleveland American turned to his weekly editorial column, Larry’s Listening Post, where he offered insights, posed questions, and sometimes stirred the pot, all in the hope of getting his fellow citizens to think a little deeper about their town, their state, and their responsibilities to one another.

He stood strong in his beliefs and didn’t just write about commitment, but also made it happen.. Larry was instrumental in the development of Feyodi Creek Park on Lake Keystone, earning him the honor of lending the “FE” to its name. He served for years on the Cleveland School Board, later becoming president of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, where he advocated for public education across the state.

In 1985, Larry entered the political arena and made headlines when he defeated eight candidates to win the Oklahoma House seat for District 35, a district that, at the time, was 70% Democrat. Though he was a proud Republican, Larry often said, and firmly believed until his final days, that voters should choose the person, not the party. It was a guiding principle that shaped his campaigns and his career, and one that earned him respect across political lines. His dedication to listening, problem-solving, and putting people first allowed him to faithfully serve District 35 for 20 years in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He never lost sight of who sent him to the Capitol, the families, farmers, business owners, teachers, and everyday folks of Pawnee, Noble, Osage and Payne counties. He carried their stories with him in every vote and every decision.

From 1991 to 1998, Larry served as House Minority Leader, the longest-serving in Oklahoma history at the time. He played a key role in reshaping state politics, laying the groundwork for a Republican majority in the years to come. In a moment that spoke volumes about his leadership and character, Larry became the first Republican representative in two decades to be appointed by a Democrat to chair a House committee; a rare honor that underscored the bipartisan respect he earned at the Capitol.

After his 20 years of legislative service, Larry returned home to Cleveland, where he remained deeply involved in civic life, cared for Nina Gay and entertained his many grandchildren.. He chaired the Cleveland hospital board of directors and loved promoting the local hospital. He also enjoyed the family’s other newspapers, The Pawnee Chief and The Hominy News-Progress, telling community stories. A lifelong newspaperman, Larry was honored by the Oklahoma Press Association with induction into the Half Century Club and was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 2014, a fitting recognition for a man who gave his voice to the people for more than half a century.

Larry also continued the other important family tradition of ranching in Pawnee County, maintaining the land that had been in the Ferguson family for generations. Whether working a pen, writing an editorial, or shaping policy at the Capitol, Larry approached life with purpose, discipline, and a deep sense of responsibility. He believed in working hard and serving others and he expected his family to do the same.

He is survived by a large and loving family that carries forward his values, his humor, his stories, and his commitment to service. His footsteps will long echo across the county he loved and the state he helped shape.

Larry was preceded in death by his beloved Nina Gay, his parents and his siblings, three nieces and three nephews.

He is survived by his children and their spouses, Lori and Tim Lucas, Guthrie; Rusty and Deana Ferguson, Cleveland; and Kari and Hardy Watkins, Edmond. He is also survived by his pride and joy, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Fielding (Kelly) Lucas, Annie (Geoff) Wilkerson, Taylor Lucas, Coulter (Tiffani) Lucas, Luke (Bri) Lucas, Liberty (Sol) Bayouth, Lincoln (Lauren) Ferguson, Landon (Bethany) Ferguson, Layne (Hanna) Ferguson, Ford Watkins and Caroline Watkins. Also his great-grandchildren, Leightyn and Adeline Lucas, Cora, Leif and Leo Wilkerson, Behr Atkinson, Larson and Jordyn Lucas, Kai, Lennon and Nora Lucas, Sullivan, Sawyer, Seth and Layla Bayouth, Lincoln, Theo and George Ferguson, Juliet Ferguson and Leeland Ferguson, and two more great-grands due in the fall. Larry is also survived by his brother and sisters-in-law, Tom and Carla Flanagan and Kathleen Keeton; in addition to many, many nieces and nephews and their extended families.

Contributions in Larry’s honor may be made to the First Christian Church Memorial Fund in Cleveland, Oklahoma, or to The Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation, in his name.

“Whatever you are, be a good one.” –Abraham Lincoln