Mary Ford, 89, passed through the gates of heaven September 19, 2024 at Hodgeman County Health Center, Jetmore.  She was born October 16, 1934 in Rome, Georgia, the younger daughter of Dan and Elizabeth Johnson.   Mary grew up in Portland, Oregon and spent many summers in the Yakima Valley with her family on her grandparents' farms.

She graduated from Oregon State University in 1955 and went on to teach in San Mateo County, California. In 1958, Mary began teaching for the Department of Defense Schools serving American dependents overseas.  She was assigned to Okinawa, Japan and it was there she met Richard Ford. They were married December 10, 1960 in Portland then moved to Kansas in 1962.

She and Richard made their home in Jetmore. For over 30 years she was a teacher at Jetmore Grade School including grades second, fifth, seventh, eighth and Title I/Chapter I reading. Mary earned her Master's degree in Education through Fort Hays State University in 1986. She and Richard raised calves and cattle and ran a goat herd until 1976.

She was a Girl Scout leader, a Sunday school teacher, a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma teaching sorority, Jetmore United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Jetmore Library Board, Hodgeman County Historical Society, and the Jetmore Senior Center.  Her greatest relaxation and enjoyment came from creating art through painting and drawing. She enjoyed displaying her work throughout the region including state and county fairs, the Carnegie Center, and Art is Ageless.

After retirement she kept busy with her grandchildren and activities through the Southwest Kansas area.  She enjoyed going on space-available travels with Richard to Europe and on art trips with her painting friends, particularly Sandra Hastings and Joanne Clarke. Her last few years were spent at the Hodgeman County Long Term Care/ISB. She enjoyed being part of the community there and was "treated like the Queen of Sheba".

She is survived by her daughters Rikki Moore (Gene) of Greeley, Colorado; Sonja Chiappetti of Norfolk, Virginia; Sabrina Smith (Joe Mills) of Jetmore; Greta Chaar (Nathaniel) of Leavenworth, Kansas and son Eric (Lorna) of Jetmore; 15 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren; brother Dan Johnson of Portland, Oregon, nieces, nephews and countless friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Martha Ellis, and her husband, Richard.

Per her wishes, Mary donated her body to the University of Kansas Medical School. A memorial service will be 2:30 p.m. Sunday, November 24, 2024 at Jetmore Methodist Church with Pastor Maria Grimm presiding. Memorials should be directed to the Hodgeman Community Foundation or the Hodgeman County ISB, in care of Beckwith Funeral Home, Box 663, Jetmore KS 67854.