Richard Louis “Dick” Ferrer, 68, of Nashville, passed away Monday, March 7, 2016. He was a resident of Brown County for 17 years.
Born Nov. 7, 1947, in Indianapolis, Dick was a 1966 graduate of Southport High School and a 1984 graduate of Indiana University majoring in political science and anthropology.
In the Air Force from 1967 to 1971, Dick was an E4 sergeant, surgery technician stationed at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines during the Vietnam War.
He was a fine art painter, illustrator, art teacher and co-owner with his wife, Dixie, of Ferrer Gallery in downtown Nashville and Ferrer Studio II in Brown County. A well-known figure in the local art community, Dick was active in the following organizations: Art Alliance Brown County, Brown County Backroads Studio Tour, Indiana Heritage Arts board member for six years, artist member at the Brown County Art Gallery, T.C. Steele Memorial, Indiana Plein Air Painters, Indiana Artist Club, patron of the Brown County Art Guild, and Hoosier Salon.
Dick participated in Lakota Indian ceremonies in Indiana and South Dakota. He also facilitated Indian religious ceremonies throughout the Indiana Correctional System for many years.
Dick was an avid tennis player, enjoyed painting with fellow artists and being with his family. He had a love for seeking knowledge through books, nature and music, especially Nirvana and Neil Young. He was a devoted Oakland Raiders and Chicago Blackhawks fanatic.
He is survived by his wife, Dixie (Frazier/Aull) Ferrer, brothers, Edward (Dusty) Ferrer, Anthony Ferrer and Joseph Ferrer; children, Amanda (Clay) Chaney and Geoffrey Ferrer; stepchildren, Joseph (Krisin) Aull, Delise (Kurt) Webber and Randall (Carrie) Aull; grandchildren, Brittany (Ryan) Evans, Jay Chaney (Amber Clyburn), Danielle (Corey) Ferling, Ethan Ferrer, Isaac Chaney, Haley Aull, Jay Aull, Mena Webber, Henry Webber, Alex Aull, Westley Aull and Charles Aull; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Ralph Ferrer and Helen (Longrich) Ferrer; and his son, Michael Sean Ferrer.
No funeral or memorial service is scheduled at this time, but a life celebration will be conducted at a later date.
