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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

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Rhonda S. May, age 61, of Hopwood, PA, passed away, Saturday, April 26, 2025 in Uniontown Hospital with her family by her side. She was born December 24, 1963 in Washington, DC daughter of Vivian Blair May and the late Ronald May. Rhonda was a 1982 graduate of Laurel Highlands High School. She studied Medical Billing and Coding for two years at WVCI. Rhonda was a self-employed Cake Decorator and Baker. She also worked in the Embroidery Dept. at Stahls DFC. Rhonda was an animal lover who enjoyed baking and gardening flowers. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family. In addition to her mother left to cherish Rhonda’s memory are daughters, Robin Lininger (Douglas Lilley) and Monica Lininger (Andy Koposko) both of Uniontown; her loving fiancee`, Rick Ditmore and beloved dog Jax of Hopwood; six grandchildren, Cameron Lilley, Evan DiNunno, Dylan DiNunno, Cayden Lilley, Chayce Lilley, and Coltyn Lilley; brother, Ronald May, II (Heather) of Carmichaels; niece, Samantha Chun; nephew, Ronnie May as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins. Arrangements have been entrusted to the ANDREW D. FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORIES, INC. where family and friends will be received on Friday, May 9th from 4 until 6 p.m. followed by a service celebrating Rhonda’s life at 6:00 PM. A dinner reception will follow the service for family and close friends at The Diamond Ballroom in Uniontown. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at adferguson.com. and the funeral home Facebook page
Valerie Lowdermilk
Valerie Ann Shrum Lowdermilk, age 57, of Uniontown, PA passed away Monday, April 21, 2025 in Ruby Memorial Hospital.  She was born April 28, 1967 in Mt. Pleasant, PA daughter of Mary Kujawa Shrum and the late Walter B. Shrum.   Valerie was a graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School.  She was a member of Grace Community Church.  Valerie loved and rescued many animals.   In addition to her mother, left to cherish Valerie’s memory are her son, Ernie Fowler of Uniontown; her brother, Walter Shrum and wife Marianne of Uniontown and their children, Blaine, Jacinda and Josh.   Arrangements have been entrusted to the ANDREW D. FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORIES, 80 Morgantown St., Uniontown, PA.  In accordance with 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.
Umbel
Kathryn E Conaway Umbel, age 82, of Fairbank, PA passed away Friday, April 18, 2025 in the Prince William Medical Center, Manassas, VA. She was born August 14, 1942 in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County, PA. Daughter of the late Albert Conaway and Daisy Noakes Conaway Perkins. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by an infant daughter Tracy, and her sister Emma Krepps.   Left to cherish Kathi’s memory are husband Allen Umbel, her sons, Robert “Rocky” Bruschi and partner David of Lemont Furnace and Dominic Bruschi of Uniontown; daughters, Cheryl Brown and husband Jordan of Greensburg, PA, Terri Bruschi of Manassas, VA, and Roberta Marshall and husband Raymond of La Belle, PA; Stepchildren: Mark (and Dana) Umbel of Navarre FL, Jeffrey Umbel of Fairbank Pa, Bonnie Umbel of Fairbank Pa, Richard (and Rebecca) Umbel of New Salem Pa, brother, Syvester Conaway of Merrittstown, PA; sisters, Helen DeVera of Parma, OH, Nancy Bryner of Connellsville, Jenny “Pearl” Conaway of Uniontown, Floretta Richards of Uniontown and Linda Garletts of Dunbar.  Kathryn leaves behind five beautiful grandchildren who were the light of her life; Michael Marshall, Angela McCarty, Eric Hull,  Justin and Lexi Jade Lewis,  5 Step Grandchildren: Nicole Umbel, Miranda Grezsiak, Acie Umbel, Kasey Jo Umbel, Hunter Umbel, Janelle Umbel, Anthony Kutek,  five great grand children; ten step great grand children,  nieces; nephews and cousins.   Family was Kathryn’s life. She was an Amazing mother.       Arrangements have been entrusted to the ANDREW D. FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORIES, INC., 80 Morgantown St., Uniontown, PA, where friends will be received on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 from 1 until 3 PM and 5 until 7 PM followed by a service celebrating Kathryn’s life at 7 PM. Interment will be private.   Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at adferguson.com and on the funeral home Facebook page.  Kathi faithfully donated to St Jude.  Please make any monetary donations to St Jude in her memory.
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Joyce I. Friend Lowery, age 84, of Uniontown, passed away Saturday, March 22, 2025 at WVU Hospital in Uniontown. She was born August 3, 1940 in Uniontown, PA daughter of the late Guy Friend and Edna McLaughlin Friend. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer F. Lowery, Sr.; her son, Francis Lowery; brothers, James Friend, Boyd Friend, Lloyd Friend and Bud Friend and sisters, Margaret Hennessy, Kaye Dudak, Opal Waggett, Thelma Wietzel and Charlotte Ann Friend; her daughter-in-law, Sharon Lowery.   Left to cherish Joyce’s memory are her sons, Elmer Lowery Jr. and wife Tammy (Fort Worth, Texas), Guy Lowery and wife Tonya (Markleysburg, Pa), Charles Lowery and wife Cindy (Redstone Township) and Wayne Mitchell and wife Sally (Mechanicburg, Pa); brother, Tom Friend and wife Sarah (Brownsville, Pa) and sisters Etta Livesay and husband Allen (Uniontown, Pa) and Paulette Russo and husband Charles (Orlando, Florida). Joyce leaves behind several grandchildren, great children and nieces/nephews that will greatly miss her presence in their lives.   Joyce was an avid sports fan following the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates on television or radio broadcasts. She enjoyed listening to country music, fishing, bowling and spending time with her grandchildren and her family during the holidays.    Arrangements have been entrusted to the ANDREW D. FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME, 80 Morgantown St., Uniontown, PA.  In accordance with Joyce’s wishes there will be no public visitation.   Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at adferguson.com and on the funeral home Facebook page.