A funeral service for Thomas Jerald "Jerry" Ford, 84, of Marshall, Texas will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in the Chapel of Downs Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Yates Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Scottsville, Texas. A visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Chapel.

He was born on February 20, 1941, in Marshall, Texas to Thomas Pendleton Ford and Wilma Faye Bowling Ford and passed away on July 25, 2025, in Marshall, Texas.

He married the love of his life, Linda, 58 years on January 15, 1965. He was a loyal husband and a giving man. They loved taking in stray dogs. He loved hunting, fishing, playing golf, crossword puzzles, and dipping snuff. He played fast pitch softball and went by his nickname "Cat." He loved music, playing and picking on the guitar and even wrote a lot of songs. He loved ranching and taking care of his farm and his sixty cows. He was loved and respected at his job by many. He loved his grandchildren and great-grandchild and always left things better than he found them.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Linda Ford; his parents, Thomas and Wilma Ford; one brother-in-law and one sister-in-law.

He is survived by his children, Jeri Bates and fiancé, Patrick Fortune and Scott Ford and wife, Kelli; brothers, Pat Ford and Mike Ford and wife, Ermene; sister, Jeanette Rutherford; grandchildren, Canon Bates, Jacob Bates and Will Ford and great grandchild, Ryker Reese Bates along with numerous nieces, nephews and other family and friends.

A special thanks to his care takers, Brenda Truehitt, Gerald Storie and various other caregivers from Heartsway Hospice.