Patricia Ann Oates

Patricia Ann Ferguson was born June 16, 1943 in Middletown, Ohio, to Chalmers and Kay Ferguson. After graduating from Ohio State University, she became a teacher of the Transcendental Meditation program, which she taught in the U.S. and all over the world with her husband Robert. She moved to Fairfield in 1974, joining the faculty and studying at Maharishi University of Management (then MIU). Patricia completed her Ph.D. in 2004 and continued as a faculty member teaching writing, Vedic Science and  Sanskrit.

Patricia was adored by her students for her keen intelligence, insight, and lively humor. She fostered happiness in the classroom and drew out the best in everyone, inspiring them to high standards of academic performance. For this, the students recognized her with the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award multiple times.

Patricia was preceded in death by her parents, Chalmers and Kay Ferguson of Middletown, Ohio, and her husband Robert of Fairfield, Iowa (d. May 9, 2018). Patricia was a proud and loving godmother to Alison Plaut of Vlodrop, Holland and Cecil Plaut of Vlodrop, Holland, and Derek Thatcher, of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Patricia is survived by her sister-in-law Suzanna Oates and nephews Chris and Andrew Oates of Manhattan Beach, CA, her aunt Gilla Lou Farrel and cousin Margaret Winningham of Dayton, Ohio; and cousins Wayne and Trudy Ferguson of Palm Harbor FL, Gail Ferguson of Arizona, and Shirley Ferguson Gabriel, of Springboro, OH.

We will miss Patricia's grace, beauty and humor, her loving heart and kindness to everyone. We are comforted by the knowledge that she is reunited with her beloved Robert.

There will be a Celebration of Life Service at Dalby Hall ( Student Union) MUM Campus on Saturday, November 16, 2019, at 1:00 p.m.