theartofbruce.blogspot.com
BRENDA G. FERGUSON
Schoodic, July, 2013, photo by Sue Blier
DIXMONT - Brenda G Ferguson, 55, passed away March 23, 2015,
surrounded by her loving family. Bren was born July 9, 1959, in Rumford, a
daughter of Edgar and Janice (Giambattista) Gallant.
Bren attended Rumford schools and was recognized as one of
the top two student graduates of the Class of 1977. She then earned her B.S.
degree from University of Maine/Farmington in 1981 and a M.Ed. in Deaf
Education from Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C. in 1983.
Bren married Doug Ferguson in 1983 and the happy couple
lived as educators and dorm parents at Maine Central Institute for six years.
She taught several hearing impaired students for six years for the Augusta
school system, and in 1989, began working at the Etna/Dixmont School as a
speech therapist when Bren and Doug moved to Dixmont in order to enjoy life and
start a family.
Over the years, Bren and Doug were blessed with three
beautiful children: Molly, Lucas, and Sadie. Bren's life-long love of art
continued to grow, and she painted and became a self-taught artist. As her art
sales grew, Bren decided to develop her talents, and she retired from the
Etna/Dixmont School in 2002 in order to follow her passion for creating
beautiful art.
Bren's career blossomed as she pursued her passion. Over the
years, her work has been featured in American Artist Magazine, Bangor Metro,
and several newspapers and magazines across New England. Her work is also on
display in Daily Painting, a book dedicated to her by artist and friend Carol
Marine. Bren's internet business expanded, and in 2008, she created her most
locally famous work of art, "Just Add Water", the mural that adorns
Hollywood Slots in Bangor.
Bren loved and celebrated every moment of her life and was a
dear friend to many. She saw the best in everyone she met, and delighted in all
that this beautiful world presented to her. In October 2014, she accepted her
diagnosis of terminal cancer and squeezed every ounce out of her remaining 24
months after diagnosis. "I love life and believe in the Universe. I won't
fight cancer, but will celebrate every moment of life and will be at peace when
I journey to my next life. All of our lives will be enriched by this experience
and when I pass, you will see and feel me as I will be part of the
Universe."
Bren is survived by her husband, Doug of Dixmont; her
children, Molly of Corinna, Lucas and Sadie both of Dixmont; her mother, Janice
Gallant of Rumford; her mother in law, Barbara Ferguson of Fryeburg; brothers
and sisters in law, Greg Dudley of Silver Springs, MD, Scott and wife Dawn
Ferguson of Lovell, Dan and wife Janet Ferguson of Newry, and Rob Ferguson of
Veazie; six nephews; four nieces; and several dear soul mates. She was
predeceased by her father, Edgar, and her sister Cheryl.
A celebration of life will be held at 11 A.M. Saturday,
March 28th at the Jubilee Family Worship Center, 63 Elm Street, Newport, with
Rev. Brian Woodbury officiating. In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be
made to New Hope Hospice, P. O. Box 70, Eddington, ME 04428.
Published in the Bangor Daily News, Bangor, Maine on March 25, 2015
Note: About 230-240 people attended this celebration of Brenda and her life.
Brenda Ferguson Portraits
How Her Friends Saw Her
by Brenda and her artist Peeps*
(* close friends, as Brenda referred to them)
with the reference photos
Her Self
Brenda Ferguson
Oil on panel, 6" x 6", August 8, 2011
Collection of JakobÃna Vilhelmsdóttir, Reykjavik, Iceland
Brenda at Owls Head, Maine with a plein air group
including Carol Marine, Colin Page,
Marianne Smith, and Bruce McMillan
August 24, 2010, photo by Bruce McMillan
Also on this web site HERE with a comment by Brenda
Afloat in the Flowers
Carol Marine
Oil on panel, 8" x 8"
Collection of the Ferguson Family
Brenda selfie photo at Belfast, Maine
in her Brenda Van Gogh sun hat
More about this and
see Brenda's finished painting HERE
Pastels to Oils via Tie Dye
Bruce McMillan
Winsor & Newton and Holbein
watercolors, and
Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on 140 lb. Fabriano
Artistico
cold press fine grain 100% cotton watercolor paper,
7" x 5", March 29, 2015
Collection of Bruce McMillan
Also online at Bruce McMillan's blog site HERE
Brenda at Spruce Head, Maine with a plein air group
including Carol Marine, Colin Page,
Marianne Smith, and Bruce McMillan
August 24, 2010, photo by Bruce McMillan
Note that in Brenda's self portrait above from this day
Brenda left out the color of the tie-die in her shirt,
while Bruce left out the apron to enhance
Brenda's signature tie-dye.
Bren
Suzanne Berry
Oil on heavyweight canvas, 30" x 30", November, 2014
Collection of the Ferguson Family
Also online at Suzanne Berry's Web Site HERE
Bren on the deck of her home
photo by her oldest daughter, Molly Ferguson, 2002