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Furman "Costa" Gist

February 4, 1943 - March 3, 2015
Racine, WI

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Visitation

Saturday, March 7, 2015
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM CST
Maresh-Meredith & Acklam Funeral Home
Racine Location
803 Main St.
Racine, WI 53403
(262) 634-7888
Driving Directions

Service

Saturday, March 7, 2015
4:00 PM CST
Maresh-Meredith & Acklam Funeral Home
Racine Location
803 Main St.
Racine, WI 53403
(262) 634-7888
Driving Directions

Life Story / Obituary


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Furman “Costa” Gist was a calm and determined man. He knew what he wanted out of life, and he pursued it. He was honest and solid in his dealings and people knew where they stood with him.

Furman was a faithful man, effective mentor and great listener. It was a joy for him to help others and enjoyed the challenge of fixing whatever wasn’t functioning well, whether electronics or buildings. Furman also enjoyed cooking, especially since it meant he could invite his family to share a meal together. A quiet, servant leader who valued his family above all, Furman was truly a wealthy man.

Furman was the son of Leroy and Helen (Sims) Gist, born in Union, South Carolina on February 4, 1943. World War II dominated American life, and as men went off to war and women were drawn into the workplace, the nation pulled together to make life as good as possible for the next generation.

As a boy, Furman and his older brother Marion and younger sister Thelma grew up in the country on land their father farmed. When the family moved to Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, their father worked in the Steel Mill, producing material needed in the war effort, and their mother was on the housekeeping staff at Aliquippa Hospital. However, the family returned often to visit Furman’s grandmother, and at one point, young Furman chose to stay in Union to help care for her and go to school there.

The summer after his sophomore year, Furman moved back to Aliquippa because he had, met the lovely Francena J. Stewart, and a romance developed in his final years of high school. He graduated from Aliquippa High School with the Class of 1961 and instead of taking a job at Steel Mill (which was the norm) he enrolled at Gateway Technical College. As boy, Furman had enjoyed fixing and building things, so it was natural for him to pursue studies that matched his interests. He completed a two-year degree, and on March 23, 1963, he married the love of his life, Francena. That same year, he enlisted in the United States Army and his bride came with him to El Paso, Texas, then California, Puerto Rico, Colorado and finally Atlanta, Georgia.

Initially, serviceman Furman trained to work on missiles but then learned diagnostic medical equipment. He graduated first in his class-despite spending part of the time in hospital due to illness. He also won many accolades for his accomplishments. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal 2nd Award, National Defense Service Medal, Missileman Badge, Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar. He was honorably discharged in 1969, having achieved the rank of SP6.

Following his military service, Furman joined Phillips Medical Systems in Cincinnati, Ohio and worked as a service technician, installing and repairing diagnostic medical imaging equipment. Within four years, he was promoted to Regional Service Manager. While experiencing many career successes at Phillips Medical Systems, including receiving the President's Award-twice, he continued to pursue his education and earned degrees from the University of Cincinnati and Wilmington College. Largely through his professionalism and commitment to exemplary customer service, he would eventually become among the highest African-Americans in the multinational medical equipment manufacturer. He retired from Phillips Medical Systems on December 31, 2010 after 42 years of service.

As a hobbyist builder, Furman enjoyed remodeling the family home-routinely performing even very complicated modifications himself. However, he didn't just use his skills at home, he also volunteered to help make improvements at his church-including tiling an entire entryway and a much-needed, complete remodeling of the bathrooms.

Furman was a very active member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church and served as a trustee from 1975 . It was a position he cherished most among his participation on many committees that included building, hospitality, vision and pulpit (new pastor search) committees-to name a few. He was seen as a strong leader who was gifted at advancing an agenda and getting the job done.

Furman and Francena had been blessed with two daughters, Marvella and Darnella, and over the years, they shared the riches of family togetherness. They enjoyed family vacations including the trips with his sister Thelma and her husband Ronald Watkins. When he became a grandfather, Furman had all the more fun, especially going to Disney World in Florida with grandchildren Marcus and Doreena. At home, he still “traveled” the world through drama and music, watching the History Channel, classic and science fiction movies and by listening to music, especially jazz.

In 2004, Furman was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma and was told the survival rate was usually only three to four years. However, instead of simply accepting his diagnosis as the final answer, Furman chose to to fight the disease each and every day. He enrolled in multiple clinical trials, taking time to investigate the various treatments. For nearly 10 years, He and Francena made the 11 hour trip from Cincinnati to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota to receive treatment for his cancer. Through their efforts, he managed to survive more than 10 years with the disease-almost three times as long as his doctors had initially predicted. Understandably, Furman became active with the Multiple Myeloma Foundation.

Furman “Costa” Gist, age 73, passed away Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at St. Luke’s Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is cherished by his beloved family and devoted friends.

Survivors include his loving wife of 52 years, Francena; his children, Marvella “Michelle” Hoskins, Darnella (Darrin) Ferguson; his three grandchildren, Marcus and Doreena Hoskins, Dorian Ferguson; mother-in-law, Odester Price; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Ronald Watkins, Pauline (Roger) Smith, Lessie (Freddie) Guerriri, Ross Stewart; Aunt Net Jeter; Uncle Jim (Vivian) Sims; nephews and niece, Garrett (Karen) Watkins, Stewart Watkins, Charon Chappell; special friend of the family whom he treated as a son, Raymond Kyser; other relatives and many dear friends. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother, Marion “Bot” and sister, Thelma “Marvella” Watkins.

Funeral services will be held in Aliquippa, PA followed by interment at Woodlawn Cemetery,

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