Linda Gayle Ford, artist, wife, mother, and grandmother passed away February 15, 2023, peacefully surrounded by the husband and family she adored.  Born July 25, 1934, in Shreveport Louisiana Linda grew up with TV and Ruth Jones, a family that bonded over Sunday dinner and a glass of tea.  Gathering eggs from the henhouse at the country home of cousins was a relished outing for Linda and her older brother Don.  Simpler times where families played cards and dominoes.

Linda's early years were shaped by a loving Aunt, Fern Jones, whose house was like a castle and her a fairy godmother.   The beauty queen from Shreveport shared 66 years with her husband Hal, "Forky," Ford who she met at Northwestern State in Natchitoches, Louisiana where they were cheerleaders and sweethearts.  A storybook lifetime it would be for the college sweeties.

Linda and Harold married and began a lifetime of adventures traversing the U.S. as members of the Armed Forces.  True partners they were even when driving the treacherous Alcan highway to Alaska with a newborn in the back of an old gray dodge station wagon.  Many family memories were etched in these moves until new orders would send the family packing.   From Louisiana to Georgia to Texas to Alaska to Oklahoma to Texas to North Carolina to Hawaii to New Jersey to Virginia to Missouri and then to back to Texas where the Fords all went until the entire family would settle in Houston, Texas where Hal and Linda joined their son Evan to start up a retail tennis, golf and ski operation called Sports Express.  It was a true family affair.  Linda ran the warehouse, travelled to trade shows and side by side they all built the successful Ford Group.

A true creative soul, talented in so many areas, Linda was an incredible artist—she painted her whole life inspired by her love of nature and family.  Throughout the years her art took shape in many forms.  Family homes filled with her paintings and collages.  A private person Linda's works were only shown once outside of the family at an art show in St. Louis Missouri.

A dry wit—Linda would take you by surprise with her incredible sense of humor and even in her later years when Parkinsonism had firmly taken hold, she was incredibly funny.  She loved playing tennis, riding horses, collecting shells on the beach—all of which she inspired the family to enjoy as well.

The foodie family was cultivated in their early years as Hal and Linda entertained often.  Even on a small army budget Linda did her best to make every day and occasion extra special.  Baking little peach and pineapple pies for her kids coming home from school.  Carrying on the many Jones traditions like chicken and yellow rice and chicken and dumplings.  Food was a joy shared by all the Fords.

Linda and Hal were great dancers—a talent no doubt developed from their college cheerleading days and a spotting of Hal and Linda jitterbugging in the living room was a sight to behold.  The duo loved road trips even after a lifetime of moves.  When Hal's mother Ida came to live with them the three set off to England to see the Queen.  Linda and Hal shared a love of gardening and for years cultivated antique roses with annual treks to the Antique Rose Emporium in Brenham.

With the years the family spent in Hawaii and a stint at the Jersey shore Linda formed an enormous love of the water even though she never learned to swim.  Sunrise and sunset at the beach—those golden hours shine brightly in many of her paintings.

Linda believed in the wonder of life and her small family was the most "wonderful" of all to her. Her dear husband Hal, her three children and grandsons.  As the years went on simpler times became the norm once again feeding and watching the squirrels and birds in the backyard.  A Sunday scrabble tournament with her daughters Debra and Laura was something she and they did religiously.  Those Sunday outings developed into domino matches after an 87 ^th birthday trip for Linda to the beach and while Linda could not partake, she listened to every outburst and giggle.

Linda was a devout Christian Scientist and she held on to her belief in its principle that man is not material, he is spiritual.  To borrow a quote from a family memoir penned by Linda Jones and published for her 80 ^th birthday "Tomorrow is out of our hands."  Relish every day…feed a squirrel, enjoy a breeze, delight in the sunrise.  And for certain keep the domino train rolling.

Linda Gayle Ford is survived by her adoring husband Harold, her three children and their spouses:  Debra Ford and Don Hutson; Evan and Renee Ford; Laura and Dennis Eaton; grandchildren Evan T. Ford, Cole Ford, Anthony Eaton, Michael Eaton and wife Shannon and great grandchildren Theo and Eli.

Many thanks to the wonderful care team who have lovingly cared for Linda for many years including Pam Washington, Kim Nevitt, Keisha Roberts, and Tracey Pace. And her nurses Amanda, Kacey, and Camille.

A private graveside service will be held at Klein Memorial Park Cemetery February 21, 2023, at 1 p.m.