Nancy Joy Fergusson, 60, of Whitefield, died Jan. 7 at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta after a 6-month battle with cancer. Born in Linz, Austria as Nancy Joy Bell on Aug. 27, 1949 to Francis (Hooper) and William Bell, Nancy grew up in Cape Elizabeth with her three brothers. She graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School in 1967 and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Maine at Portland in 1971. She married George Fergusson on May 19, 1979, at which time she moved onto the Fergusson Family Farm in Whitefield.
Nancy was a strong and impassioned woman with a great many interests that she involved herself in over her lifetime. She worked as a teacher and librarian in her younger years; she later became a licensed massage therapist and Tai Chi instructor and earned a black belt in Kempo Karate. In her later years, she worked as a patient registrant at MaineGeneral Medical Center and found solace and friendship within the Calvary Bible Baptist Church. She was a seeker of knowledge; she never stopped learning throughout her whole life, and she freely passed her knowledge on to many people. She loved gardening and being outside in nature, and became involved with beekeeping in 2005. She loved being around children, and found immense joy in the arrival of her grandson in 2009.
Nancy is survived by her mother and step-father Francis and Roger Dolan, of Cape Elizabeth; brother & sister-in-law Gordon & Sally Bell, of Tenants Harbor; brother Daniel Bell, of Cape Elizabeth; brother & sister-in-law Steven & Mary Dolan, of South Portland; husband George Fergusson, of Whitefield; son & daughter-in-law Colin & Alissa Fergusson, of Hallowell; daughter & son-in-law Elizabeth & Jason Dmitrieff and grandson Robin Dmitrieff, of Whitefield; sister-in-law Jean Fergusson, of Whitefield; step-aunt Beatrice (Dolan) Potenzo, of Cape Elizabeth; cousins Reggie Conohan, Daniel Conohan, Anthony & Norma Potenzo, Joanne (Potenzo) and George Freeman, and Dory Freeman, all of southern Maine.
Memorial service 1 p.m., Sat., Jan. 16 at the St. Denis Parish Hall in Whitefield. Donations in Nancy’s memory may be made to the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care.
