Raymond Ford Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

He was born on February 17, 1918 in Winslow, Arkansas, where his daddy worked for the railroad. In the early 1920’s, the family moved in mule drawn wagons to a small farm that they had leased in eastern Oklahoma. After several nights camping along the way, they arrived at their destination and sold all but one of the mules for supplies and seed money. When Raymond was eight, both his parents became ill, forcing the boys to quit school and find jobs to put food on the table. His first job consisted at using a double bladed axe and the remaining mule to hand hew and haul railroad ties out of the woods. That first year, in his spare time, he grew a crop of sweet taters, which he stored in a small shed where he slept and tended a small fire to keep his crop from freezing. He developed a work ethic that sustained him and his offspring through numerous difficult times. By the sweat of his brow, he raised six children who never lacked a thing. He worked as a roughneck in the oil fields, a hay bucker, a logger, a service station owner and a sawmill operator. He retired at the young age of eighty and continued to maintain his home and vegetable garden until the condition of his body prevented him from doing so. He had the love of his life by his side for fifty-four years. He is survived by his children, grandchildren, great grand children, great-great grand children, a sister, a cousin and many friends and neighbors. He went to be with his Lord on January 5, 2012. He will be remembered as an honest, hard working, good man. “There will be peace in the valley for me.” - Red Foley

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Raymond Ford