Obituary of Kevin William Ferguson

Kevin Ferguson, 73 Dominion It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Kevin Ferguson, age 73, on Monday, February 20th, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital with his family by his side. Born in Glace Bay, he was the son of the late John Ferguson and Mary (Peddle) Ferguson. He is survived by his four children Stewart, Merrill (Niki), Kevin (Laura) and Tara (Ryan); grandchildren Claudia, Connor, Ava, and Logan (Jackie); great-grandson Levi; sisters Josephine “Sis”, Glenna, Catherine “Kitty” (Murray), Grace (Peter), and his brother Greg (Ellen); as well as his long-time companion Cathy MacDonald. He is also survived by, and will be forever remembered by, his lifelong friend Walter “Weigi”, his nephew Forbes (Maureen) and his niece Mary Ruth (Gervase), with whom he shared special relationships. Kevin leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Special thanks to Vanessa, Derick and Grace for their care and compassion. Besides his parents, he is also predeceased by his brothers Roy, Jimmy, and Johnnie. Few men could stand under 5’5” and weigh under 140 lbs but carry the moniker “Big Kev” without it seeming oxymoronic. However, so many attributes of Kevin were enormous such as his kindness, work ethic, and loyalty to friends and family. Hospitality and generosity were attributes that Kevin felt demonstrated the nature of people. He was always willing to give someone a hand or share anything that he had, even if he did not have much. His door was always open, and he gave many people a place to lay their heads over the years. Kevin highly valued work ethic, and his children would often be told, by the people he worked with, that they could not believe that such a small man could work so hard. Kevin worked at various jobs from an early age and even spent time picking tobacco in the US, but he took immense pride in the 27 years that he worked in the coal mines, where he became an overman. He loved the camaraderie of the miners he worked with and often spoke of how much he missed it. After he retired, Kevin shared that same camaraderie with his fellow members of the Dominion Hawk’s Club, where he devoted much of his time. He helped with many club tasks over the years, including deck renovations, working as a bartender, and volunteering for various community events. He was an excellent pool player and was a member of multiple leagues in his life. Kevin helped shape the lives of many people, including his children, nieces, and nephews, as well as the men that worked for him in the mines. He was a shining example of how toughness and gentleness are not mutually exclusive. He was well respected by all that knew him and despite his small physical stature, Big Kev was truly a giant to the countless people he helped inspire. Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held on Monday, February 27, 2023, from 12-2 p.m. A service will follow at 2 p.m., with Fr. Daniel Boudreau presiding. All will take place at T.J. Tracey Cremation and Burial Specialists, 370 Reserve St., Glace Bay (902-849-4199). Burial service will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Glace Bay Food Bank.