Stephen Knowlton Ferrier passed away on December 19 after a long illness. He was born in San Francisco, California on August 29, 1946 to Philip K. Ferrier and Esther Christopher Ferrier. He was the first of four sons. His family soon relocated to Berkeley, California where he spent his childhood.
He attended Berkeley public schools (Emerson Elementary, Willard Junior High and Berkeley High), graduating in 1964. Childhood summers were spent at the family cabin in Dutch Flat, CA, swimming in the community pool and fishing with his paternal grandfather, William Warren Ferrier, Jr.
After attending a year of college, he enlisted in the Army Intelligence Corps, stationed in Stuttgart, West Germany until his discharge. After overcoming significant health issues, he graduated from U.C. Berkeley in 1980 and relocated to Lawrence, Kansas. He worked as an analyst for the State of Kansas Department of Children and Families for more than 40 years, only recently retiring from that position.
He maintained a variety of passions in his life, including politics, literature, writing, and especially sports, including soccer, track and field, football, basketball, and the Tour de France. As a teen and young adult, he enjoyed the outdoors, particularly hiking and backpacking in the Sierra Nevadas and in the San Francisco Bay Area. In later life, he especially enjoyed reading mysteries and completing crossword puzzles.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Douglas Ferrier. He is survived by his children, Evan Ferrier (Kristin Feierabend) of Durham, North Carolina and Emily Moser (Todd) of Seattle, Washington; his two grandchildren, Asa Ferrier and Gabe Ferrier; and two brothers, Alan Ferrier of Tucson, Arizona and David Ferrier of Portland, Oregon.
No services are planned. Donations in his honor may be made to one of the following organizations to which he generously donated: Doctors Without Borders, Just Food of Douglas County, or Harvesters Community Food Network.
