29-Nov-1938 - 16-Oct-2022
Margaret Mary Ferguson (nee Moran)
Our hearts are crushed by the loss of our beloved Margaret Mary Ferguson, cherished wife, mother, “Grammy”, aunt, sister, and friend. Margaret left this world on Sunday, October 16, 2022 at the age of 83 after a short battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Margaret was born on November 29,1938 to parents Joseph and Esther Moran in Liverpool, England, the eldest girl of 7 children. After spending her childhood in England, she and her family emigrated to Canada. The Moran family settled in Toronto where Margaret began working for General Foods. It was through her job that she met her future husband, Douglas Norman Ferguson, on a blind date. Married for 62 years, they have two daughters, Janice and
Jennifer. In marriage and in business, Margaret and Doug became a dynamic pair.
They were highly active in real estate and were serial entrepreneurs. In their twenties, they opened The Silver Cue Pool Hall. Future business endeavor's included Big Bay Point Marina and the Highland Golf and Country Club. In their 40’s they turned to hospitality, becoming the first Canadian Pizza Hut Franchisees. Margaret remained actively involved in the business until her retirement at age 68.
Margaret lived to be by the water whether it was in her home, on their boat, Pizzazz, or cruising worldwide. She cherished her years with Doug on Pizzazz at South Bay Cove Marina. They spent many summers boating on Georgian Bay, traveling to Killarney and Mackinaw and everywhere in between. They shared their love for boating with their 4 granddaughters, Emma, Holly, Olivia, and Chloe, spending weekends anchored at Christian, Hope, or Beckwith Island with each of them. Well read, Margaret was a wealth of information on any topic and proved to be a fierce competitor in cruise ship trivia nights. Travel was Margaret’s passion, and she was fortunate to have visited hundreds of destinations worldwide. She adored fashion and interior design, and imparted her love of style to her daughters and granddaughters.
Margaret is predeceased by her father John Joseph, mother Esther, brothers James, Frank, John, and Bernard. She is survived by her husband Douglas, daughters Janice (David) and Jennifer, granddaughters Emma, Holly, Olivia, and Chloe, sister Cecilia (Wally), brother Edward (Mel), and many nieces and nephews, in Canada and abroad.
A funeral mass was held for Margaret on Friday, October 21, 2022 at 11:00 am at St. John
Chrysostom Church in Newmarket, followed by a reception and celebration of Margaret at Janice and Dave’s home in Newmarket. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Canadian Lung Association:
https://www.lung.ca/get-involved/donate/make-general-donation/online-donate-form