Carlyle Ferguson

Iron Duff, Carlyle Ferguson, age 77, passed away on Wednesday, May, 23 2018 at Rex Healthcare in Raleigh, NC.

A native of Haywood County, he was the son of the late Andrew and Ida Mae McElroy Ferguson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, John Robert and Charles Andy Ferguson; and three sisters, Sarah Greene, Bennie Underwood and Betty Moody. Carlyle spent his entire life in the beautiful Iron Duff community. He graduated from Crabtree-Iron Duff High School in 1960 and decided to serve his country in the United States Navy. Carlyle served aboard the USS Ticonderoga for four years. During his time of service, he made several Far East cruises into the Vietnam regions during the Vietnam War. After completing his service in 1964, he returned home to manage the family dairy operation. Carlyle also had an entrepreneurial spirit and started Carolina Pet Service, a strong family business still in operation today. Carlyle was an active member of Crabtree United Methodist Church where he served on several various committees.

Carlyle served 45 years on the local Haywood Soil and Water Conservation Board of Supervisors, as Chairman for 17 years. He was also a Haywood County Commissioner from 1998 through 2004. Carlyle served on various local boards in Haywood County which include: Haywood Community College Board, Haywood Social Service Board and he was a member of the Haywood County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and the Farm Bureau E-Team (communicating with elected officials regarding important agricultural issues). Carlyle also served on the Board of Directors of the Crabtree-Iron Duff Fire Department, the Haywood County School Board from 1978 until 1986, the Haywood County Dairyman Association, the Haywood County Dairy Herd Improvement as a state board director, and Carlyle was also a member of the Tuscola FFA Alumni Association. He was an active member of Waynesville Rotary Club where he participated in projects for special needs, both on the local and national levels.

Carlyle also served in several positions on both a regional and state level, these accomplishments include: Serving as chairman of the WNC Dairyman Association along with the Governor's Task Force Committee on agriculture for three years under the direction of Governor Jim Martin, board member for Western North Carolina Pigeon River Fund Board, and the TVA Authority Board. During his tenure on the TVA Board, Carlyle was presented with the TVA Distinguished Service Award. Carlyle was also chosen Dairyman of the Year several times from 1975 through 1986 for Western North Carolina.

Carlyle was chosen as North Carolina Farmer of the Year and competed in the Sunbelt Expo with other Southeastern state winners in 1987 in Moultrie, Georgia. His love for agriculture and dairy led him to travel with Marie to Europe, California, Arizona and Nevada visiting dairy operations to obtain more knowledge on the subject. During his service with soil and water he attended 44 NCASWCD annual state meetings of his 45 years of service.

Carlyle is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Marie Davis Ferguson; one daughter, Julie Sawyer and her husband, George of Iron Duff; two sons, Davis Ferguson and his wife, Cristy, of Iron Duff and George Ferguson, and his wife, Elizabeth, of Wake Forest; five grandchildren, Cody, Austin and Andrew Ferguson and Nicholas and Grace Sawyer; six sisters, Margaret Williams, Helen Davis (Lawrence), Ruth Presnell, Annette Best, Maxine Bradshaw (Jimmy), and Irene Noland (Joe); a sister-in-law, Claudia Ferguson; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews..

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 27, 2018 at Crabtree United Methodist Church with Reverend Sara Scruggs officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Saturday evening at Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Crabtree United Methodist Church General Fund 5405 Crabtree Road, Clyde, NC 28721 or Parkers Chapel Cemetery Maintenance Fund, 385 North Haywood Street, Waynesville, NC 28786.

The care of Mr. Ferguson has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes and an online memorial register is available at "Obituaries" at www.wellsfuneralhome.com

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