Betty Jean Ford, (74), Jonesborough was called by Jesus and entered into Heaven on Tuesday July 23, 2013 from the Johnson City Medical Center Hospital following a lengthy illness. God needed another singing angel. She was a devoted Christian, wife, mother, grandmother, and sister.

Born on April 19, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Charles Claude and Mavis Marie Rhudy. She was retired from Levi Strauss & Company in Johnson City.

Those left to cherish her memory include the love of her life, husband Hollace Ford. Also left behind are her sons and daughter Wes Ford and wife, Cindy, Sheila Blair and husband Jack, Craig Ford and wife, Benita, Jerry Ford and wife, Trina; her grandchildren Anthony Ford, Ashley Rhymer, April Ford, Carrie and husband, Travis Davis, Duana Vance, Jacqueline and husband, David Carle, Tereina and husband, Travis Duncan, Aaron Ford, Matt Ford and wife, Mary Beth, Ben Ford; and great-grandchildren Makayla, Kamryn, Nathaniel, Damien, Brayden, Trace, Hailey, Rylan, AJ, and Eli. Also her brother Curtis Rhudy and his wife Mary Jane, and sister Linda Wise, whose husband Bob was already waiting in heaven. She also leaves behind several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and her family at Hawthorne Church and extended family in the Southeastern District Brethren Churches.

She also left behind special friends Daniel and Stephanie Hensley and Dr. John Daniel. The family would like to thank the 5300 and 6200 wings of the Johnson City Medical Center as well as Dr. Farrow and Dr. Hoover for the special loving care provided to our dear, sweet mother.

To know her was to instantly fall in love with her. She adored her husband of 56 years and faithfully worked side-by-side with him for over 33 years in his ministry. She enjoyed her role as song leader at Hawthorne Church; the more verses a song had, the better she liked it. A singing group could never finish without her requesting at least one more song.

She loved the Lord, her husband, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was so proud of every one of them. She loved her flowers, cooking, and playing cards and was a master of each. She lived her life each and every day for the Lord and was a textbook example of how to live a Christian life in service to God and others. Up to the end of her precious life, no one left her room without her telling them that she loved them.

The family will receive friends at Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home in Jonesborough on Thursday July 25, 2013, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm.

Funeral services will be conducted at New Hope Church of the Brethren in Jonesborough on Friday July 26, 2013, at 11:00am, the Reverend Russell Payne officiating. Graveside services will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Highway 81 North.

Pallbearers will be Anthony Ford, Matt Ford, Aaron Ford, Ben Ford, Jeff Murr, and John Swonger. Honorary pallbearers will be the deacons of Hawthorne Church of the Brethren: Don Hale, Ralph Stephens, Dale Ford, and Todd Blair.

Condolences may be sent to the Ford family online at www.dillow-taylor.com.
Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Jonesborough, 753-3821