History

Andrew D. Ferguson, Sr., started in the funeral industry in 1921, with the William S. Nixon Funeral Home in Uniontown, originally established in 1901. He and his wife, Lillian Nixon Ferguson, lived above the funeral home. The Andrew D. Ferguson Funeral Home was established in 1928, where the American Red Cross Center stands. The funeral home was moved to the Greed revival style mansion across the street to its present location, 80 Morgantown Street, Uniontown (The Edgar S. Hackney Estate built in 1900) in 1937. Lillian ran the funeral home while raising four children after Mr. Ferguson’s death. Jack McFadden assisted her in sustaining the business until her son A.D. Ferguson took over in 1961. Andy Ferguson joined his father in 1988.

Andy is a life member of the Academy of Funeral Service Practitioners. He was a consultant for the Pennsylvania Department of Education assisting in the licensing of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science’s online education program, and a preceptor for the Institute.

Andrew D. Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematories, Inc., offers free funeral services to any police officer or firefighter who dies in the line of duty. Family and Veteran Plans are also available. The Ferguson Funeral Home will assist your family with end of life decision making documents and procedures for traditional or contemporary funeral or memorial services.

Many innovative services are offered at the Ferguson Funeral Home, including notifying social security, veteran’s organizations, insurance companies, pension/retirement plans and many other important providers. We contact the family two days after the funeral to tie up loose ends. After two weeks, a breakfast basket is sent to the home and, after two months, we inform them of grief support options. After six months we deliver a pie and, one year after the loss, an anniversary rose in remembrance of the loved one lost. A tree also is planted in memory of the loved one lost. Identification viewings are available for families of direct cremation. In addition to offering Fayette County’s first funeral home website, we are also the only funeral home with support grieving groups and a grief lending library, the only funeral home developing personalized DVDs, portraits and an angel ornaments in-house, and state-of-the-art video and sounds system. We also have a refrigeration unit on-site for extended services, an international shipping service for the convenience of families transporting a deceased loved one to or from any destination, and Life Appreciate and Life Celebration Services.

The Ferguson Family and the staff of the Ferguson Funeral Home extends its hand to help community families through life’s most important transitions with true compassion for 150 years. Visit the Ferguson’s branch office, Ferguson-Brownfield Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., in Smithfield. It was formerly the Brownfield Funeral Home and Vance Funeral Home, established in 1869.

OBITUARIES

RECENT OBITUARIES

Linda Mae McIlravey Weaver

Linda Mae McIlravey Weaver, age 77, of Uniontown, PA, passed away June 9, 2025 in Uniontown Hospital. She was born September 26, 1947 in Brownsville, PA daughter of the late Frank R. McIlravey, Jr. and Zola Crutchman McIlravey. In addition to her parents, Linda was predeceased by her brother, Donald McIlravey. Linda was a 1968 graduate of Uniontown High School. She was a member of the Uniontown Free Methodist Church. Linda enjoyed sewing, crocheting and baking for the church. Left to cherish Linda’s memory are her sons, David Sullivan (Helen) of Morgantown, WV and Donald Sullivan (Sabine) of Issquah, WA; grandchildren, Anna Sullivan and Ellie Whited. Arrangements have been entrusted to the ANDREW D. FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORIES, INC., 80 Morgantown St., Uniontown, PA. A memorial service celebrating Linda’s life will be held at a later date. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at adferguson.com or on the funeral home Face Book page.

Charlene F. Layhew

Charlene F. Layhew, 79 of Brownsville, PA passed away Tuesday, June 3, 2025 in Uniontown Nursing & Rehab Center, Uniontown, PA. She was born in Uniontown to Ewing Layhew and Myrtle Barnhart Layhew. In addition to her parents, Charlene was also preceded in death by a brother, Ewing Layhew, Jr. and sisters, Frances Dugan and Jessie Lacey. She was a 1963 graduate of German Township High School, the Uniontown School of Nursing, and a 1986 graduate of Penn State Fayette with a BSN in Nursing. Charlene worked as a registered nurse for many years for Uniontown Hospital, WVU – Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown and South Fayette Nursing Center. She was an avid reader, loved playing piano and spending time with her grandchildren. Left to cherish Charlene’s memory are her daughter, Michelle Kelley, Esq and husband Michael Henney of Uniontown; a son, Matthew P. Kelley (Barbie) of Indiana, PA; grandchildren, Nathan and Melissa Henney and soon to be great-granddaughter, Baby Henney, Maxwell Henney, Alexander Henney, James Kelley and Montgomery Kelley. To honor Charlene’s memory, donations may be made to the Uniontown Public Library. Arrangements have been entrusted to the ANDREW D. FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORIES, INC., 80 Morgantown St., Uniontown, PA, where friends will be received Wednesday, June 4, 2025 from 5 until 8 PM followed by a service celebrating Charlene’s life at 8 PM. Interment will be private. Condolences may be expressed at adferguson.com or the funeral home’s Facebook page.

Kathryn R. Gates Kanosky

Kathryn R. Gates Kanosky, age 73, of Smithfield, passed away Monday, May 26, 2025 in the WVU Uniontown Hospital. She was born January 17, 1952 in Uniontown to the late Walter Gates and Dorothy Dennis Gates. Left to cherish Kathryn’s memory are her loving husband of forty-seven years, John Kanosky, Jr. of Smithfield; a son, John C. Kanosky of Smithfield; daughters, Christina Fletcher and husband Brian Staley of Smithfield and Elizabeth Kanosky of Latrobe; grandchildren whom she adored, Ky Fletcher, Dominick Fletcher. Harley Fletcher, Christopher Kanosky, Gavin Kanosky and Damien Penkal; a sister Janet Gates and partner Thom Boynton of Gloversville,NY; several nieces and nephews. Kathryn graduated from Albert Gallatin High School with the class of 1970. She worked as an event specialist in sales and marketing for Walmart for many years. Kathryn was a member of the St Patrick R. C. Church of Manington, WV. She enjoyed baking, nature, animals but most importantly taking care of her family. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ferguson Funeral Home & Crematories, Inc,78 Main St., Smithfield, PA on Friday from 2 until 4 and 6 until 8 PM. Visitation will continue in the funeral home on Saturday, May 31, 2025 from 8:30 until 9:30 AM followed by prayers of transference at 9:30 AM. A mass of Christian Burial celebrating Kathryn’s life will be held in St. Cyril Methodius R.C. Church, Fairchance at 10 AM. Interment will follow in Mount Moriah Cemetery, Smithfield. The family suggests donations may be made to Fayette Friends of Animals, P.O. Box 1282, Uniontown, PA 15401. Memories and condolences can be shared with the family at adferguson.com and on the funeral home Facebook page.

Laurie Beth Kocan

Laurie Beth Kocan, 62 of Pittsburgh, PA passed away peacefully March 29th, 2025, in St. Margaret Hospital. She was born in Steubenville, OH to the late Jack and Mary Ann Maher Kocan and raised in Uniontown, PA. Laurie was born with spina bifida, but she never let her physical disability define her. Her disability may have presented her with many challenges, but Laurie never shied away from her goals and aspirations, facing these challenges with courage and determination. She lived her entire adult life independently and spent significant time advocating for individuals with spina bifida through her involvement in many organizations and support groups. In her spare time, Laurie embraced every opportunity to enjoy Broadway theatre productions, art, the latest movies and fine dining. Laurie was a graduate of Laurel Highlands High School and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh where she earned her degree in graphic design. Left to cherish Laurie’s memory are her sister, Lynn Kocan of Morgantown, WV and her nephews Keenan Kocan, Liam Sandoval, Wyatt Sandoval (Jasmine) and Zander Sandoval. She is also survived by aunts Virginia Rach of Greensburg, PA and Barbara Newell of Bridgeville, DE, uncle Robert Kocan of Gibsonia, PA, many cousins, great nieces Nalani Sandoval and Violet Sandoval and dear friends Lori Ellis and Riley Newell both of Pittsburgh. To honor Laurie’s memory, donations may be made to Spina Bifida Association of Western PA, 3000 Stonewood Drive #100, Wexford, PA 15090. Arrangements have been entrusted to the ANDREW D. FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORIES, INC., 80 Morgantown St., Uniontown, PA. A service celebrating Laurie’s life will be held May 29^th at 11:00 at Mount Macrina Mausoleum.