Kay Willard Ford

Funeral services for Deacon Kay Willard Ford will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 13, 2019 at St. Paul Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Ore City Cemetery under the direction of Reeder-Davis Funeral Home in Ore City.  There will be a time of visitation from 5:00 until 8:00 Friday evening at the funeral home.

Deacon Kay Willard Ford was the sixth of ten children born to the late W. H. Ford and Ardalia Young Ford on July 25, 1943 in Ore City, Texas. At an early age he united with Snow Hill Baptist in Ore City, Texas.

Kay was an alumni of Valley View High School and attended Texas Southern University in Houston and Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins. In 1967, he was drafted into the United States Army.  During the Vietnam War, Kay contributed to the nation’s defense effort by working as a Specialist 5 Sharp Shooter until 1969.

On June 7, 1970 in Gilmer, Texas, he united in Holy Matrimony to Alice Robertson.  To this union, two children were born, Brenda and Belinda. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, friend and servant of God.

After returning from the military, he worked at Tyler Pipe, Lone Star Steel, and Robroy Companies. Kay worked as a cook in several restaurants. In 1988 Kay moved to Palestine where he worked at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as a lieutenant officer. He retired from Anderson County Sheriff Department in 2001.

After returning in 2008, Kay joined Snow Hill Baptist Church and was ordained as deacon. He served as the Sunday School Superintendent and chairman of the deacon board. Kay was a member of Ore City Masonic Lodge.

Kay departed life on April 4, 2019 at Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview, Texas. He was preceded in death by his son, Robert Foreman, brother Willie A. Ford, sister Elnora Young Tatum, and both parents W. H. Ford and Ardalia Young Ford.

He leaves to cherish his loving memories: wife: Alice Ford; daughters: Helena (Reginald) Maxwell, Dallas; Brenda (Lex) Martin , Hallsville; Belinda Mitchell, Round Rock; grandchildren:  Rickie (Chelsie)  Thompson, Zenovia Thompson, Chelsia Thompson, Sarah Dickerson, Kayla Mitchell, Jaylon Mitchell, Corbyn Mitchell, Allan Lee; brothers:  General Ford and Bobbie (Bernice)  Ford ,Houston, Scelester Ford and David Ford , Long Beach, CA,  sisters: Yvonne  (Felton) Davis and Jurel White, Ore City, TX, Melva Belvin, Long Beach, CA; Gloria Crayton, Houston, TX; aunt: Louise Hartfield, Jefferson; great-grandchildren: Akachia Thompson, Rickie Tave Thompson, Aavon Moore; Reagan Thompson, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.