A Tribute

Judith A. Ferguson

November 3, 1947 -- February 17th, 2009

Mom, 1950

BRUNSWICK, ME – Judith A. Ferguson, 61, of Coombs Rd. died February 17th at Midcoast Hospital after a prolonged illness. She was born on November 3rd, 1947 in Morgantown, West Virginia. Judy is predeceased by her mother, Betty Grow Frost, and her father is James A. Frost. A graduate of Loyola Marymount, she held a B.S. in English. Judy had been a resident of Maine since 1974.

Mom and Dad, 2008

Judy is survived by her husband of 33 years, Chuck; her father Jim Frost and his wife Jane of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and two daughters, Amy Ferguson of Lisbon Falls and Allison Lantieri and her husband Chris of Amston, CT and their two children James and Ella. She is also survived by many cousins.

Allison, Mom and Amy, 1980

Judy and her husband Chuck and their two girls moved to the old Rush Farm on Coombs Road in 1981. There she and the family kept a number of small farm animals including a pony, horses, geese, chickens, rabbits and turkeys. The Fergusons are known for their local brown eggs, as well as for the fowl that have a tendency to roam up and down Coombs Road. In addition to the many farm animals that they tended, they also took in countless stray dogs and cats and gave them all a “forever” home. Of all of them, Judy’s current dog, an 11-year old beagle named Beezus was certainly her favorite and never far from her side.

Beezus in the shop

Over her lifetime Judy loved fleamarketing, baking breads and pies, reading, knitting, canning vegetables and preserves and enjoying a quiet country life. Judy was well-known in the Midcoast area as the co-owner with her husband of Pollyanna’s Antiques, a small shop on Front Street in Bath. Judy specialized in Victorian textiles, dolls and vintage sewing notions. She and Chuck could be found most every Saturday and Sunday at the Montsweag Fleamarket during the summer season, looking for that special hidden antique treasure that she could add to her shop. She was well-regarded for her knowledge and loved for her “grandma’s attic” style of shop keeping. Judy took great pride in designing stunning and unusual shop window displays. Her husband intends to keep the shop open in her memory.

Mom outside her shop a few years ago

Judy was a dedicated mother, wife, daughter, grandmother and friend and will be dearly, dearly missed. Her two grandchildren, James and Ella were the apples of her eye. She often told friends that she couldn't wait to teach James all about the farm and have tea parties and play dress-up with Ella.

A photo she took of one of her favorite heirloom roses

A celebration of Judy's life will be held on Saturday, March 21st from 3 to 5 pm in the Community Room at the Patten Free Library in Bath. In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be made to the Coastal Humane Society of Brunswick, or to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals by making a Memorial Donation in her name on their website, www.aspca.org. Burial services will be private.