HAINES CITY -- Mr. Billy Clifford Ferguson of Haines City died of lung failure Thursday (July 28, 2005) at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale. He was 81.

Born in Thelma, Ky., on Dec. 29, 1923, he came to Haines City from Comstock Park, Mich., in 1983. He was a retired engineer for Conrail of 38 years. He was a Navy veteran. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and was a member and past master of the Lisbon Masonic Lodge No. 229 F & AM of Michigan. He was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason.

Mr. Ferguson was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy. He is survived by his daughters, Paula Ferguson, Edwardsburg, Mich., Tommi Stroul, Braselton, Ga.; sons, James Ferguson, Comstock Park, Bruce Ferguson, Eagle Grove, Iowa; brothers, Paul Jones, Victoria, Texas, Don Jones, Paintsville, Ky., Delmar Jones, Versailles, Mo.; sisters, Phyllis Witt, Versailles, Janet Sue Kirkham, Elizabeth, Ind.; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Conklin Reform Church. Burial will follow in the McNitt Cemetery, Conklin, Mich.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Saladin Shrine Temple, trust for children, 42 Saladin Drive S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49546.