Onita Gay Ferguson

Onita Ferguson ObituaryObituary published on Legacy.com by Struve and Laporte Funeral Chapel on Mar. 9, 2026.Mrs. Onita Gay Ferguson 88 passed away peacefully on February 26th 2026 with her family by her side after a gallant battle with dementia.Onita was born in Pacific Grove on March 12, 1937 to parents Frank and Alma Edgin. Onita grew up and was raised on the Peninsula along with her two sisters, Rosalie (Register) and Burdetta (Martindale) She attended local schools and was a graduate of Pacific Grove high school.Onita met and married the love of her life, James Ferguson Sr. on April 18, 1954. Together they had three children; Jimmy, Danny & Julie. The family resided in Pacific Grove until they moved to Pebble Beach, where they would live the majority of their lives.In 1971 Onita started her career as a DMV clerk, a position which she held at several local dealerships until her retirement. In addition; in 1978 Onita's husband, Jim and son Jimmy founded their family business; Ferguson Paining and Decorating to which she was a co-owner. There she worked as office manager for the company until she moved permanently to her second home in Sweet Home Oregon in 2010.Onita had many hobbies and interests, one being watching her sons Jimmy and Danny race motorcycles at the Monterey short track during the 1970's. They traveled together as a family to many out of town competitions as well. Onita also developed her love of horses watching her daughter Julie ride and compete from a young age.Onita loved to laugh and socialize, and she had many lifelong friends with whom she loved to play bunco with. She loved hosting parties and gatherings at her home in Pebble Beach. Onita was a fabulous cook and baker as well. She took pride in throwing family dinners where she would have every bit of food cooked to perfection and decorations to match.She loved traveling, with Hawaii being her favorite place to go. Along with her husband Jim, she spent many years traveling to Maui, where they would gather yearly with friends and family.She also loved trips to Branson, Las Vegas, and Melbourne Florida, where a majority of her family lived. She even traveled to the Mall of America in Minnesota. She was an avid shopper and had a love for beautiful clothing, shoes, and purses.Onita was exceptionally proud of her three granddaughters ;Kelly, Taylor, and Morgan. One of her favorite passions was traveling along with her husband Jim to watch Kelly compete all over the country in quarter horse competitions. Onita proudly cheered her on at some of the countries most prestigious horse shows. She also enjoyed traveling with Taylor and Morgan on various trips to Hawaii and cruises over the years and she always made vacations so special.She was very proud of all three of her granddaughters, and kept pictures of them all in her wallet and was known to show them frequently to strangers and friends alike.Onita also was an avid NASCAR fan in addition to attending NASCAR races in Las Vegas, she also went to Daytona to tour the track and also she enjoyed vacationing in Charlotte North Carolina, where she traveled to several racing facilities. This included Dale Earnhardt Inc. At the time home to her favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr.Onita was an avid animal lover and she had several beloved boxers throughout her life time.In the early 2000s Onita and her husband Jim purchased two homes in Sweet Home Oregon, where they had many family and friends. After living in Pebble Beach for most of her life, she moved to Sweet Home permanently in 2010.When her illness began, she chose to move back down to the Monterey Peninsula where she lived with her daughter Julie up until her passing.During her final years, nothing gave her more joy than spending time with her three beloved great grandchildren Presley, Tylie and Santana.Onita was a kind, funny, generous woman, and the most amazing wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, she was the true matriarch of the Ferguson family and she will be greatly missed by all those whom were lucky to have known her.She was proceeded in death by her parents, Frank and Alma, her husband of 52 years, Jim, her daughter-in-law Debra Ferguson, and son-in-law, Mike Wilson.She is survived by her three children; Jim, Ferguson of Prunedale, Danny Ferguson of Seaside and Julie Wilson of Seaside. Her grandchildren, Kelly Silva(Chuck) Taylor Wilson, and Morgan Graham (Austin). She is survived by her great grandchildren Presley, Tylie and Santana as well as many other nephews and nieces and several other family members and friends to whom she was very close with. She is also survived by her sister Rosalie Register of Florida and Burdetta Martindale of California.The family would like to thank Dr. Susan Kubica and staff for their exceptional compassion and care of our beloved mother and grandmother. The family would also like to thank Home Connect Hospice for their care and guidance through this difficult journey.Though gone, she will never be forgotten, and her legacy and memory will remain alive through her children, grandchildren and great grandchildrenTo plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.