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

Betty Shaffer Walls

Betty Shaffer Walls, age 95, of Uniontown, PA, died peacefully, Sunday, April 21, 2024, at her residence within Peroni’s Personal Care Home. She was born, Betty Shaffer, on July 4, 1928, in Uniontown, PA, the daughter of the late Nelson Shaffer and Elsie Grove. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, Harry Raymond Walls, and her three brothers, Paul Shaffer, Kenneth Shaffer, and Ray Shaffer. Betty had a long career as a telephone operator at Bell Telephone, where she worked for 40 years. She also volunteered at Uniontown Hospital. She was a member of multiple clubs, including Sunday Manor Bowling League and Uniontown Hospital Auxiliary. Additionally, she had a great passion for quilting. More than anything, Betty loved spending time with family. Left to cherish Betty’s memory is her step-sister, Linda Shaffer, of Arizona, step-brother, Fred Johnson; daughter, Joy Fike (Mark), of Uniontown; son, Harry R. Walls, Jr. (Bradie) of Sun City West, AZ and her loving grandchildren, Gregory Fike (Samantha) of Uniontown, Caitlin Vlosich (James) of Uniontown, Geoffrey Walls of Bartlett, IL, Arlee Walls, of Seattle, WA, and Sayler Walls of Los Angeles, CA. Arrangements have been entrusted to ANDREW D. FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORIES, INC., 80 Morgantown St., Uniontown, PA where family and friends will be received on Thursday, April 25^th from 2 until 4 p.m. and 6 until 8 p.m. Visitation will continue in the funeral home on Friday April 26^th from 10 until 11 a.m. followed by a service celebrating Betty’s life at 11:00 a.m. with James Vlosich officiating. Interment will be private. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Beechwood Court and Peroni Personal care home for their loving care of Betty and a special thank you to Miranda and Kate from Amedisys Hospice.

Samuel (Sam) W. Davis

Samuel (Sam) W. Davis, age 99, passed away on Saturday, April 20, 2024, one day shy of his 100^th birthday. Sam was born April 21, 1924 in Brownsville, PA. to the late Jacob and Pauline Wess Davis. He grew up in Mather, PA, and spent most of his adult life in Uniontown. In addition to his parents, Sam is also preceded in death by two brothers, Isadore “Izzy” Davis and Ralph Davis. After high school Sam enlisted in the Army and served in France, Germany and Austria during World War II. For his service in France, Sam was knighted into the French Legion of Honor. French President Emmanuel Macron presented Sam with his medal at the French Embassy in Washington, D.C. in November 2022. Sam, his brother Izzie, and father owned and operated J. Davis and Sons, general store in Isabella, PA. Subsequent to selling that business, Sam worked in Morris Men’s Store and Boys Store, Daniel’s apparel store and Mundel’s Furniture, before being forced by his daughter to retire at 90 years of age. He was also a faithful member of the Tree of Life Synagogue in Uniontown. Because of his sociable nature, Sam was an excellent salesman. Many of his customers became lifelong friends of his. Sam’s life revolved around his late wife, Bernice, and his daughter, Sandy. Both women adored him. Sam never raised his voice got angry, or ever won an argument with either of them. Sam’s final ten years were spent near Frederick, MD to be closer to his daughter. Sam will forever be remembered by his only child Sandy, who hopes to live life even half as joyfully as Sam did. Arrangements have been entrusted to the ANDREW D. FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORIES, INC. 80 Morgantown St., Uniontown, PA, where friends and family will be received on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 from 2 until 3 PM followed by the Lavayah service celebrating Sam’s life at 3 PM. Military rites will be accorded graveside by AMVETS Post# 103. Interment will be in the Holy Society Cemetery, Hopwood, PA. In lieu of flowers, donations to Fayette Friends of Animals, PO Box 282, Uniontown, PA 15401. Memories and condolences can be shared with the family at adferguson.com and on the funeral home Facebook page.

Christopher Thomas Sleighter

Christopher Thomas Sleighter died peacefully while asleep on April 20^th, 2024 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Even in failing health, Chris maintained a quiet dignity and compassion for others that is a beautiful lasting memory for his family. Born on November 2^nd, 1957, Chris was the son of John Ross Sleighter (died 1963) and Pauline Sleighter. Chris is survived by his wife Linda Sleighter of Uniontown, daughter Kayley Sleighter of Baltimore, MD, daughter Kelsey Magnotti and husband Jake Magnotti of Pittsburgh, PA and his first grandson Walker Christopher Magnotti. Chris’s family includes sister Mary Ann and husband Jim Grego of Uniontown, brother John Sleighter and wife Mary Carol of Gibsonia, PA, sister Linda Sue (died 1980) and husband Bill McGee (died 2019) of Las Vegas, NV, sister Sharon and husband Simon John of Uniontown, brother Rob Sleighter and wife Susan of Uniontown. There are numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, cousins and in-laws, all who will miss “Uncle Chris”. Chris was a graduate of Uniontown High School, class of 1975 and received his degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. After college, Chris began working at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 12 office. Chris was a fair minded and respected leader at PennDOT where he established a long and distinguished career, retiring as the Fayette County Manager in 2016 after 35 years of employment. Chris, better known as “Slate”, was fiercely competitive and loved to play basketball. He played for the St. John’s CYO basketball team that went to the state championship in Erie, PA in 1974, played for the IUP Crimson Hawks and continued to play recreationally as an adult where he was known to be a “ slasher “ who loved to go to the hoop. His love for basketball continued as he enjoyed watching his daughters play for several years. His greatest joy was spending time with his family, especially in Myrtle Beach. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Andrew D. Ferguson Funeral Home & Crematories, Inc. At Chris’s request the services will be private. A public mass will be held at St. Therese Roman Catholic Church at 61 Mill St., Uniontown, PA 15401 at 10 am on Tuesday, April 23. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that charitable donations be made to the American Cancer Society at 3708 Fifth Ave #503, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.

Michael W. Richter

Michael W. Richter, age 56, of Leisenring, passed away Thursday, April 4, 2024. He was born February 5, 1968 in Connellsville, PA son of the late Frank Richter and Hazel Mauk Richter. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Michael Richter; daughter, Ashley Richter, brother, Brian Richter; foster parents, Raymond and Audrey Mirt and foster siblings, Nancy Quinn, Bill Toal and Sharon Mirt. Michael was a graduate of Connellsville, High School. He previously worked as a driver for Werner Trucking. His greatest joy was spending time with his grandchildren. Left to cherish Michael’s memory are his wife, Amy Metz Richter; daughter, Amber Richter; brother, Jermaine Richter (Sherry); sisters Judy Richter and Pam Stewart; two grandchildren, Jaxon and Ashton; foster siblings, Kimberly Honeycutt (Bob), Bob Mirt (Susan), Raymond Toal (Sue) and numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements have been entrusted to the ANDREW D. FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORIES, INC., 80 Morgantown St., Uniontown, PA. According to the family’s wishes there will be no public viewing. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at adferguson.com and on the funeral home Facebook page.