Ekirima Moantewa Ferguson left us on September 29, 2021, at the Dade City Hospital after she contracted Covid 19. She was 58 years old. Ekirima was born in the beautiful South Pacific Micronesian Island of Bonriki, Tarawa, Kiribati. Her parents, Moantewa Bwaaua and Rikaanako Nabuti, raised her along with several brothers and sisters she grew up with. She went to school at a boarding school, Moroni High School, and she told us fun stories of living there and making a lot of friends. She had many fond memories of her home country, family, and friends. She married Douglas Ferguson in 1991 in Dade City, Florida. Together they legally adopted their daughter, Eritabeta Ferguson, from her deceased brother Barai, when Eritabeta was four years old. Ekirima met Raphael Peter years later and had two children with him, Eric, and Eleanor Peter. Raphael Peter passed away in May of 2007. Ekirima worked for the Pasco County School Board Bus Garage for almost 20 years, where she helped disabled children. She loved the children she worked with and enjoyed being with them.

Ekirima loved her family dearly and wanted to see them often. She was a wonderful grandmother to her three grandchildren, Elijah, Luke, and Violet Otero. She babysat them often and liked calling her home country to keep in touch with her many nieces, nephews, and other family members. She will be greatly missed by many family members.

She is survived by Eritabeta Ferguson and Eritabetas husband Jonathan Otero from Orlando Florida. Eric Peter and Eleanor Peter from Dade City Florida. Her siblings: Terinan Moantewa, Tebantaake Moantewa, Tokataane Moantewa, Erietera Moantewa, and from Kiribati. She is predeceased by her husband, Douglas Ferguson in 1994, her boyfriend Raphael Peter in 2007, and her brother Barai Moantewa in 1987.

SERVICE PRIVATE