Charles Harvey Fergason, 96 years old, passed away peacefully on August 30*h at Carroll County Memorial Hospital surrounded by his wife and family. He was a devoted husband always dotting over his wife. He loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed entertaining family and friends.
He was the son of Virgil A Fergason and Lois Buckner Fergason born on September 7th, 1928.
He attended Floyd country school before graduating Carrollton High School in 1946. He attended the University of Missouri. He started farming and raising livestock, cattle, hogs and sheep with his father in the Sugartree bottoms.
He married Glenrose Shirley on September 23, 1950. In December 1950 he was drafted into the Army and sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma where Glenrose moved to be near him. He was sent to Korea where he served until December of 1952.
After he was discharged, he returned home to farm with his father on what today is known as Austin farms. They started housekeeping in a home they moved to the farm from its previous location, known as the dance hall at Bowdery Lake south of Carrollton.
In 1971 he moved his family from the river bottoms to a farm they had purchased north of Carrollton. He and Glenrose started Fergason Farm Systems selling Butler grain Bins and buildings, while he continued his farming and livestock operations.
In the late 1960’s he pursued his interest in flying by getting his pilot’s license. He would fly and land in pastures at both farms. He loved hunting, his favorite being coyote hunting with his greyhounds which he raised. He often took the plane up to locate coyotes on the ground and somehow signaled his buddies on the ground as to their location.
As a Butler builder he sold, erected and serviced many grain bins and buildings in Carroll and surrounding counties, most of which were erected by his son Steve managing his crew. He sold and serviced a big majority of grain bins in the county. Charlie, as he was known by his close friends, took great pride in doing quality work, keeping a clean building site and doing most of his own electrical work that was self-taught. His crews did their own concrete work on all their bins and buildings, expanding into an occasional driveway and sidewalk. He and his crew poured the Carrollton United Methodist Church parking lot and steps as well as the dance floor at the Carroll County fairgrounds for the Beef and Pork Palace.
Always thinking what he could do next, he ventured from the bin and building business into the swimming pool and spa business selling and servicing pools in his trade area.
For several years he was the largest sheep producer in Carroll County. MU extension and sheep professors brought several people from other areas to observe his sheep operations. In October of 1992 Missouri Ruralist featured their sheep operation with an article in that magazine.
After retirement they spent many winters in Arizona where he started woodcarving and painting pictures which again was self-taught with a little help watching Bob Ross on TV, until his eyesight began to fail him. They continued to live in Carrollton.
Charles Harvey was a member of several organizations and served on numerous boards. To mention a few MU Extension Council, Carrollton R7 School Board for 12 years serving as president for 1 term. He was a member of the Carrollton United Methodist Church serving as Chairman of Trustees for several years. Carroll County Shriners riding minibikes with the group in many parades. He was a 50-year member of Wakanda Lodge 52 Mason, Rural Adult Organization and Missouri Cattlemen’s Association.
Charlie is survived by the love of life, his wife of almost 75 years, Glenrose. His sons Steven and his wife Karen of Camdenton, Roger and his wife Jill of Carrollton, daughter Gayle and her husband Kevin Casner of Carrollton, daughter in law Natilie Fergason of Norborne, 9 grandchildren, Carmen Lavelock, Cody Fergason, Rachel Davis, Stephanie Bredehoeft, Emily Fergason, Kyle Fergason, Adam Casner, Seth Fergason and Heath Fergason. 17 great grandchildren and another Fergason coming in October.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Virgil, one sister Lois Catherine and one son David.
Charlie was widely known for his continual pranks and tricks he loved to pull on just about anyone but especially good friends.
Visitation is Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 10 AM at the United Methodist Church of Carrollton, 212 N. Folger St., Carrollton, Mo 64633. A funeral will follow at 11:00 AM. Burial will be in Carroll Memory Gardens in Carrollton.
Memorials may be made to Carroll County Livestock leaders and left at the funeral home or mailed to Missy Wooldridge 31042 Hwy 24, Carrollton, Mo. 64633. (Arrangements entrusted to Hidden Valley Funeral Home of Carrollton, www.hiddenvalleyfunerals.com)
Source: KMZU, The Farm
