A model neighbor and father on Queen Anne

Murray Ferguson knew what was important to him, and what wasn't.

He wasn't much of a gardener, but he spent lots of time puttering around the yard so he could meet his Queen Anne Hill neighbors as they walked by.

Home repairs weren't always at the top of his list, either.

"There were a lot of leaky faucets that never got fixed at my house," his daughter, Annie Ferguson, remembers. "Every moment, if it was a choice between fixing the leaky faucet or shooting hoops with the kids, he was shooting hoops."

Mr. Ferguson died unexpectedly Monday of heart failure. He was 78.

Together with Betty, his wife of 55 years, he raised seven children, co-chaired a $5.2 million fundraiser for St. Anne School, organized the school's annual Tour of Homes, campaigned for Republican Party candidates, and helped their son Bob, a Democrat, get elected to the Metropolitan King County Council.

An English major at the University of Washington, Mr. Ferguson studied under acclaimed poet Theodore Roethke and remained an avid poetry fan.

In 1990, his friend Terry Gleason suggested creating a poetry club with just two rules, Mr. Ferguson recalled in a UW newsletter last year: "First, that we start every meeting with a drink. That, of course, got me interested. Second, that whoever is host sets all the other rules. That's worked perfectly all these years."

When his son Bob became a Democrat in his 20s, Mr. Ferguson would say, "No, no, he's an independent — too damn independent." Years later, when Bob ran for County Council, the father distributed more yard signs than any other volunteer.

On the first Mother's Day after his neighbor Jan Block's first child, Courtney, was born deaf and with other physical disabilities, Mr. Ferguson gave Block a dozen red roses and a card inscribed "to the most courageous mother I've ever met."

Mr. Ferguson took photographs each year of the trick-or-treaters who showed up at his door for Halloween. When Nick Block had his bar mitzvah, the Fergusons gave him an album with all the Halloween photos from his childhood.

"He set the standard for fatherhood 25 years ago, and a lot of young dads like myself learned from him," said Ken Block, father of Courtney and Nick.

Born in Everett on May 21, 1928, Mr. Ferguson was the seventh of William and Anna Ferguson's eight children. He graduated from Everett High School in 1946, served two years in the Navy, and then attended UW, graduating in 1952. He worked for Boeing for 38 years and retired from his job as a facilities planning manager in 1990.

He married his high-school sweetheart, Betty Hausmann, after college. His many cards to her ended with the words, "P.S. Every day I fall in love again."

Mr. Ferguson is survived by his wife, Betty; twin brother, Neal, of Seattle, and sister Anne of Olympia; children Tom of Piedmont, Calif., Ann (Annie) and Peter of Seattle, Bill of Issaquah, John of Edmonds, Bob and Dan of Seattle; seven grandchildren; and 23 nephews and nieces.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 this morning at St. Anne Church, First Avenue West and West Lee Street, Seattle.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to St. Anne School, 101 W. Lee St., Seattle, WA 98119, or to the University of Washington Libraries, Attn.: Cyndi Asmus, Box 352900, Seattle, WA 98195.

Keith Ervin: 206-464-2105 or kervin@seattletimes.com