Floyd Ford

Floyd R. Ford, was born December 30, 1940, and passed from this life September 28, 2026. Floyd was born in Seligman, Missouri, to Lloyd and Fern Ford. He was raised by his paternal grandparents, Dave and Amelia Ford, in Monett, Missouri.

Floyd was raised south of Monett, on a small farm. They used horses to farm. He learned about being neighborly by example.His grandparents sold the farm. They bought a house in Monett, and he started school. Floyd attended the Free Will Baptist Church in Monett with his grandma Ford. One day when leaving church, the preacher said, “aren’t you ready to go down front,” and Floyd felt the Lord calling him. He was saved that day as a young child.

Floyd didn’t fit in at the traditional school. He liked to ride his bike. He was glad to be raised in a small town, and he could tinker with a lot of things. He often talked about the people who would help him make good decisions in his life, encourage him, or help him when he and the school officials didn’t see things the same way. Early on, Floyd would gather, recycle, work, and tinker on things, and he had a talent for it. He never called it a talent; he just did it. He learned by watching and listening, mainly doing it over and over, until it worked. He had many sayings, one being: “A learned lesson is worth way more than a bought lesson.”

His grandpa’s health required trips to the doctor. Floyd was granted special access to drive early and miss school to take his grandpa to the doctor as needed. He enjoyed driving and the freedom that came with it. He was hired at Moss Market in place of school. He started in the butcher department. His coworkers quickly became like family to him. They watched out for him and tried to line him out when needed. This gave him more opportunities.

Floyd and Sue started dating. He married N. Suzanne Terry on July 6, 1960, in Harrison, Arkansas. Together they had three children.

Floyd started driving trucks. He learned from some of the best. Floyd and Sue were true partners, building a life for their family together. He drove, traded, and wrenched; she brought food to fields for the hay crew and she would deliver parts as needed. He hauled vegetables, chickens, and hay. He then moved to propane, then Tristate Motor Transit out of Joplin, then became a company driver. All the time living near Monett, including on a small farm for kids to live in the country. He always was amazed how Sue could take very little and make it be enough and last.

In 1978, he took a union job working for Roadway out of Strafford, Missouri. The family moved to Strafford. Floyd was water baptized behind Exotic Animal Paradise through the Stafford Assembly of God. Floyd took over the change of operation with Roadway to Chicago Heights, Illinois, in 1983. This was a new adventure for the family. He made his last run in the truck and then retired. He took off his watch and never wore another one.

Floyd loved to share stories that showed how thankful he was that God protected him and provided for him and his family. He would tell everyone, “don’t get old.” He also prayed daily for health and welfare. He was so thankful when he heard his great-grandkids pray. He found a lot of joy in their excitement for school and activities.

Floyd and Sue traveled and enjoyed their hobbies over the years: horse-drawn carriage drives and conventions, sleigh rides, NASCAR racing, car/truck shows, and visiting family. Floyd enjoyed trading items for his collections. He always reused items, from gathering flowers in a field to moving rocks and landscaping their home like a park.

They moved back to Seymour, Missouri, and found a good church home, Cedar Gap Baptist. They found a community. Floyd found some very special friends: Amish and English. Floyd reconnected with friends from truck-driving days also. Floyd and Sue were near family, in-laws, and cousins and had the time to visit.

Floyd has traveled the lower 48 states over and over. He knew highways and could give directions. He knew God as his personal savior and felt him near. Floyd was a natural storyteller. These sites, trips, stories, and family gave him a lot of comfort as he waited on God’s plan.

Floyd was preceded in death by one son, Ferlin Ford; one son-in-law, Richard Gray, and one daughter-in-law, Laurie Ford.

Floyd is survived by his wife, Sue, of the home; children, Dennis Ford, Sharon Gray (Ford), and Helena Ford; grandchildren in which he shared stories and wisdom with, Jessica and Michael Gillespie, Jeffrey and Brooke Gray, and Curtis Ford; great-grandchildren, Kennadi, McKinley, Kimimila, Myles, Kamari, and Ryker Gray, Scarlett Ford, and Gideon Gillespie.

The Ford family wishes to thank the Mercy Cancer Team and Integrity Hospice for their compassionate care and a special thanks to the church family, family, and friends; it meant so much.

Memorial Contributions for Floyd may be made to Log Church Memorial Gardens. Contributions can be dropped off in person at Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home in Seymour, or by Mail to P.O. Box 366, Seymour, Missouri 65746.