Ferris Cooper Orange Jr.

Ferris Cooper Orange, Jr., 85, passed away peacefully on November 18, 2025, in Lafayette, Indiana. He was born on February 8, 1940, in Lafayette to Ferris Cooper Orange, Sr. and Bethina Louise McIntyre Orange.

A lifelong resident, Ferris attended Jefferson High School, where he was a dedicated athlete, competing on both the basketball and football teams. His professional life was varied and included work at Alcoa, Reliable Exterminators, and Burger Steel. He was also a skilled union roofer and, for a time, pursued farming in Iowa. He kept active by working out at the YMCA and enjoying the pool.

Ferris was a man of many enjoyable pastimes. He loved the outdoors, particularly fishing and mushroom hunting, and enjoyed the camaraderie of playing poker. He was an avid sports enthusiast who followed college basketball, football, and boxing closely.

Above all, Ferris was a gifted artist. His favorite thing to do was to draw detailed portraits of his family, friends, and beloved movie stars, often capturing the likenesses of Elvis Presley and John Wayne. His appreciation for classic films was evident in his favorite movie, Gone with the Wind, and his admiration for actors like James Dean, Paul Newman, and Clark Gable. He also enjoyed listening to the music of Elvis Presley.

Ferris’s life was immeasurably enriched by his canine companion. He truly loved his dog, Greg, who was his best friend and a source of profound meaning and companionship.

Ferris is survived by his children, Joseph Shane Orange, Angie Pogue, and Brian Cox; his grandchildren, Ferris Cooper Sutherland, Tabitha Eardley, Heather McKenzie, Erin Orange, and Victoria Orange; his great-grandchildren, Ayli Sutherland, Arya Sutherland, Kye Sutherland, Matisen Orange, Knyoka Kirkland, Zoe Kirkland, Josalin Wolter, Nova McLaughlin, and Lakelyn Ferris Orange; and his sisters, Sheila (Robert) Burton, Janice Bundy, and Debra Fordyce.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ferris Cooper Orange Sr. and Bethina Louise McIntyre Orange; his sibling, Jack Brandt Orange; and his children and grandchildren, Ferris Cooper Orange, III, Yvette Marie Vaughn, and his granddaughter, Knyoka Pruitt.

A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at a future date and time to honor Ferris’s memory.