February 5, 1922 - Dec 31, 2008

GLADEWATER - Services for Royce N. Ford, 86, of East Mountain, will be 10 a.m. Saturday, January 3, 2009, at East Mountain Baptist Church, with the Rev. Wes Sherman, the Rev. L. Aubrey Pate and the Rev. Ken Brumley officiating. Burial will be in East Mountain Cemetery, with the Rev. John Lee Ussery officiating.

Born February 5, 1922, in Tyler, Texas, he went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 31, 2008. He was a veteran of the United States Navy, having served during World War II. He graduated from Tyler High School and attended Tyler Commercial College.

He married Louis Day of Tyler on February 14, 1948. Together they owned and operated Ford Office Supply Co. from 1963-1987.

A member of the Gladewater Rotary Club, he was also a member and past president of the Gladewater Chamber of Commerce. He resided in the East Mountain community for 56 years. An active member of East Mountain Baptist Church, he also served as deacon.

He is survived by three daughters and a son-in-law, Belinda Ford of Stephenville, Holly Ford of Spring Hill and Patti and Sam Wheat of Ruston, Louisiana; three grandchildren, Adam Wheat of Ruston, Louisiana, Eli Cook of Longview and Ethan Cook of New York; sister-in-law, Dorothy Ford of Bonham; nephew, Robert Ford of Bonham; and great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Oris and Alma Ford; wife, Louise Day Ford; daughter, Sheila Ford Cook; and brother, Glenn Ford.