A graveside service for Linda Sue "NaNa" Ford, 77, of Marshall, Texas will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at Yates Memorial Cemetery in Scottsville, Texas. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at Downs Funeral Home.

Linda was born on August 11, 1946, in Marshall, Texas to Roy Coleman and Thelma Jeter Coleman and passed away peacefully on December 29, 2023, in Marshall, Texas.

She was a dedicated wife, mother, and "NaNa". She served in the community as a beloved schoolteacher for 37 years. She loved teaching social studies and history. Her motto was Learning is a Journey, Enjoy it!  After retiring in 2007 she found passion and peace in gardening and working in the yard. She enjoyed reading Crime and Mystery Novels, but her first priority were her dogs, and always had a soft spot for strays.  She would enjoy taking her dogs for a ride in the pasture to see the cows, who she loved as well, and made pets out of them. She spoiled them by feeding them apples, banana peels, vegetable scraps, bread and potato peels. She had a heart full of love for her family, kids, grandkids, great grandson, but most of all the love of her life, her husband, Jerry of 58 years. She worked hard at keeping him in line. Her influence will be felt through the family and community she leaves behind.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy Colman and Thelma Jeter Colman and brother, Tony Coleman and wife, Wendy.

She is survived by her husband, Jerry Ford; her children, Jerry Lynn Bates and Scott Ford and wife, Kelli; grandchildren, Canon Bates, Jacob Bates and Will Ford and great grandson, Ryker Bates along with numerous nieces, nephews and other family and friends.

A special thank you to the staff at Heritage House, HeartsWay Hospice, Brenda Truehitt, Geral Storie, and Lynn Green.