Jo Ann "Jody" Buckley Ferguson of Connell, Wash., passed away April 15, 2014.

Jody was born on April 15, 1940, to Edward Alvord Buckley and Matty Elizabeth (Betty) Buckley (Houston) in Spokane, Wash. Jody was raised and educated in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where she participated in Campfire girls, Job’s Daughters, bike riding, swimming, reading, and attended St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and Camp Cross. She enjoyed playing with her sister, Jan, and neighborhood and family friends. Jody babysat and worked at various local jobs; including nursing home, restaurant, and for Dr. O’Halleran where she learned to be meticulous in her work. The goal of all of all these jobs was to help pay for college so she could become a fourth generation teacher.

Jody attended the University of Idaho, where she was associated with the Alpha Phi Sorority, participated in the Vandaleers, and graduated with a B.S. in Education. She met her future husband, Darrell Ferguson, of Wardner, Idaho in the summer of 1964. They were married the next summer at St. Luke’s in Coeur d'Alene. In 1965 they moved to Connell, Wash., where they were both hired to teach. Although she cried when she first came to Connell because of its lack of trees, she soon learned to love it. For three years Jody taught some truly wonderful sixth grade classes.

Jody was active in Beta Sigma Phi, Eastern Star, and served as secretary of the North Franklin Teachers Association.

In 1968, Jody accompanied her husband to Worcester, Mass. While there, she taught in Millbury and Holden, Mass., gave birth to four children, was secretary of the Clark University Parent-Teacher Cooperative Nursery School, and supported her husband’s educational endeavors at Clark. Over the years she also corrected her husband’s spelling and punctuation.

In 1977, Jody returned with her family to Connell where she taught special education at the junior high and high school. She retired from teaching in 1996. Jody truly loved teaching, and took great pride in her student’s accomplishments in life.

Despite being bedridden for the last 15 years, Jody actively helped with the family. She encouraged her children in their professional careers, and helped set up GET (tuition) programs for her grandchildren.

Jody was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Betty, and infant son, Per Kristian. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Darrell, in Connell; daughter, Erin Ferguson, and grandsons, Liam and Colin Ferguson, of Prosser, Wash., son, Glenn (Julie) Ferguson, and grandsons, Bergen and Rowan Ferguson, of West Valley-Yakima, Wash., son, Craig (Michelle) Ferguson, and granddaughters: Kaitlin, Alexis, and Grace Ferguson, of Everett, Wash; sister, Janet (Roger) Mannix, of Rogue River, Ore., and cousin, Robert (Trudy) Crow, of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

In accordance with her wishes, a private family memorial service will be held at a later date.

The family wishes to recognize the wonderful care that Jody received over the years from KGH (Trios) Home Health, and more recently from the Kadlec Hospital staff and the Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice staff. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice, Connell Food Bank, or a charity of your choice. The family invites you to sign the online guest book at www.muellersfuneralhomes.com.