Antoinette “Toni” Ferguson Stevens of Westhampton Beach died December 18. She was 95.
Ms. Stevens was born May 19, 1920, the only child of Jeremiah S. Ferguson and Antoinette Clark Ferguson. She was the fifth of seven generations to live in the family home built in 1844 in Westhampton Beach by her great-great grandfather William Raynor for his bride Mary Jane Hawkins. In 1939 she married Ira C. Stevens, who died in 1999.
Survivors said her foremost interests were the care of her family, her home and the family business, Stevens Dairy. In 1957 the family home was moved to Beaver Dam “Crick” in Westhampton and an addition was built to provide more space for the growing clan. She loved entertaining her family and friends there, especially at Christmas. She taught herself and others many arts and crafts—cooking, painting and wallpapering, sewing, furniture refinishing, rug hooking—and she excelled at them all.
She was a dedicated supporter of the community through her voluntary efforts. During the war, she was on beach patrol. At any time she could be counted upon to bring a pot of chili to fortify the firemen out on late fire calls, or to get out the vote for her favorite candidate. She led a campaign to stop the dredging of Beaver Dam Creek. She supported her church by baking pans of biscuits for the Strawberry Festival, decorating the pulpit for the Harvest Festival and making wreaths for the Christmas Tea.
From 1966 to 1987, Ms. Stevens wrote a column for the Hampton Chronicle. In her words, “the first column appeared as ‘Tried Temptations,’” featuring Ma Ferguson’s Maine Coast Soup and terrible casserole recipes for getting three Little Leaguers, a cheerleader and a drummer to five different games on time.” Later that year the column was renamed “From the Back Stoop, Comfortably Rocking.” Natives and visitors alike appreciated her wit and wisdom in the many stories about the history and philosophies of the East Enders. Through her columns we learned about the many courageous and colorful characters that shaped the development of the area of which she was so proud.
Ms. Stevens is survived by daughters, Dale Wilson and husband Kim, and Cheryl Stevens; sons, Jere Stevens and wife Lynn, Halsey Stevens and wife Jill; 10 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. Her son Ira C. Stevens Jr. died in 1994.
Visitation was on December 21, at the Follett Funeral Home in Westhampton Beach. A funeral service was held on Tuesday, December 22, at 11 a.m. at the Westhampton Presbyterian Church on Quiogue.
Memorial donations may be made to the Westhampton Presbyterian Church, 90 Meeting House Road, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978; Westhampton Beach Fire Department, 92 Sunset Avenue, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 or East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978.
on Dec 21, 2015