Karen Ferguson

Karen Diane Reeder Ferguson passed away peacefully at her home in Wolf, Wyoming, on April 19, 2020, surrounded by her family. Karen was born on November 29, 1949, to Elmer Ray and Mandalene Reeder in Haynesville, Louisiana. She was salutatorian of her high school class and attended Northwestern State University of Louisiana on a full academic scholarship. She came to Wyoming to work at Eatons’ Ranch, where she met her husband William T. “Bill” Ferguson. The two were married June 5, 1971, and they settled at the Ranch, and Karen taught at Tongue River High School and worked at Eatons’. Karen and Bill had two children, William “Will” and Amanda, and raised them in Wolf. Later in life, Karen had the opportunity to work in the finance industry. Despite a steep learning curve, Karen achieved numerous certifications including becoming a Certified Financial Planner. She loved bantering with her co-workers and helping her clients, and ended her long and successful career with D.A. Davidson in 2016.

Karen was a devoted and hard-working member of the Sheridan community, supporting numerous charitable causes, including serving on the Vestry and Altar Guild of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, the Sheridan College Foundation Board, and the Dude Ranch Foundation Board. Karen loved God, a spirited debate, her community, her friends, and most of all her family. Until the very end, she rarely met a challenge she was not willing to tackle head-on, usually emerging victorious. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, aunt, and friend. She fiercely loved and protected her family and friends and always was the first to offer advice or help. Her desire to offer guidance extended to many of her children’s friends, who along with her own kids she regularly felt the need to line out. Karen will leave a giant hole in our lives that cannot be filled, but we are grateful she is at peace now with the Lord. She was preceded in death by her beloved brother Kevin (Anita) Reeder, her father Elmer Ray Reeder, and her sister-in-law Susan (John) Van Allen. She is survived by her mother Mandalene; her husband Bill; her children Will (Kelsey) Ferguson, and Amanda (Luke) Esch; her grandchildren Holden and Josephine Esch; her sister Susan (Duane) Atchison; her sister-in-law Patty (C.B.) Kaufmann; her brother-in-law Thomas “T.J.” (Kim) Ferguson; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Dude Ranch Foundation at duderanchfoundation.org, Climb Wyoming www.climbwyoming.org, the Sheridan College Rodeo team, or St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Online condolences may be written at www.kanefuneral.com. Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with local arrangements.