SIDNEY — A motorcade of 27 motorcycles escorted the funeral procession for 6-year-old Rylan Ferguson’s “last ride” on Monday afternoon from Cromes-Edwards Funeral Home to Graceland Cemetery in Sidney.
Rylan, the son of Shauna L. and Jacob A. Ferguson, of Sidney, fell into a creek on Sunday, Feb. 25. His body was recovered the following Monday morning along the creek on Knoop-Johnston Road.
“It was really a very humbling experience for a community to come together for a child they didn’t know and to help raise the funds to bury him. And for all of the bikers that showed up, outside of a hand-full we knew … for strangers to come and donate time and ride for someone they never met, it was just a very humbling experience for everyone,” said Rylan’s great-aunt Robin Ferguson Cutlip, whose brother Rodney Ferguson is Rylan’s paternal grandfather.
Cutlip said the idea for the motorcycle escort derived from Rylan’s love of motorcycles. She said one of Rylan’s cousins has a motorcycle and that Rylan always tried to get him to “pop a wheelie” on his bike.
Rodney’s childhood friend John Schoffner “felt led,” to reach out to his fellow biker community, wife Beth Schoffner said, after seeing the Ferguson family’s post on Facebook about their desire for a motorcycle escort. Beth said John is a member of the Christian Motorcycle Association (CMA) and took on the task of ensuring enough bikes were present to escort Rylan’s last ride on Monday, March 5.
“We were very honored to serve. It was a blessing to us to (organize the motorcycle escort), but we are sorry under these circumstances that anything like this would ever have to happen for us to do something like that,” Beth said sadly.
“We were just thankful that we had the people show up that we did. We had a few of the dedicated bikers that ride all year round, (at the funeral home). And some of our riders said they wouldn’t have missed it for the world, which is awesome,” Beth said.
The goal, she said, was to get 20 to 50 bikers to participate in the procession escort. However, due to the funeral being held on a Monday with many people unable to miss work, as well as the 40-degree-weather, Beth said they were grateful for the amount of bikes that came.
“(Organizing the motorcycle escort) was our way of letting the family know that they are loved. And the motorcycle community did turn out to let them know that we do care and that there is still goodness in this world,” Beth said.
Aaron Edwards, funeral director/owner of Cromes-Edwards Funeral Home, said the community pulled together to continue to show support for the family, Monday, as there was “standing room only.” Every chair set out for Ryan’s service was taken, he said.
After the funeral home was made aware of the intent for the motorcycle escort, Edwards said, they worked in conjunction with the cemetery and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, which volunteered to help with the procession to Graceland Cemetery.
“There has been a lot of public support, from the sheriff’s office, to the school, local employers and the community. The whole community has come together to try and help the family,” Edwards said, including Fairlawn Elementary School Principal Karen McRill, who he worked with some on behalf of the family.
Cutlip said the community, including Fairlawn School, several local businesses and the public rallied together to raise the funds for funeral and burial expenses.
“(They have been) very, very generous,” Cutlip said of the donations. “It has been very humbling experience for the family.”
A GoFundMe fundraiser campaign, with a goal of $7,500, was also set up to help with expenses. The campaign is no long accepting donations because the goal was surpassed with the total GoFundMe amount raised was $7,586 from 141 people within seven days. Cutlip said they have taken up a collection at her place of employment, Ross Casting and Innovation (RCI), and at Emerson, where one of Rylan’s cousin works.
Cromes-Edwards Funeral Home also assisted the family in their time of need by providing the service and casket at no charge to the family.
“It is very, very generous,” Cutlip said of all the donations.
Pasco Grocery, 5881 State Route 29, Sidney, is still taking donations in a collection jar at the store, and has 10 donated children’s books for sale with the all of the proceeds going to Rylan Ferguson’s family. “Aaron’s Little Sailboat,” by former Fairlawn resident Patti Laughlin Fogt, is for sale for $10, or any additionally donated price.
Also, 47 Bar & Grill, 210 W. Main St., Port Jefferson, is still taking collections for the Ferguson family.
