Wendell Lee Ford was born on November 28, 1932 to Lee Roy and Gladys Leora (Halterman) Ford in Stet, MO.
In 1958 Wendell married his wife Janice Florine Murphy. In 1969 they moved to Gower with their children Debra and Doug.
Wendell helped his dad on the farm, worked at the service department at Cooper Day Motors in St. Joseph and was an inventory manager and sales representative for Standard Oil Company in Kansas City, KS. In addition, he was co-owner of Conoco Gas Station in King City, MO, a district sales manager of Golden Harvest and Ava Seed Corn, and an automobile salesman at Car City in Savannah and St. Joseph. In his later years he was a landscape team member at Paradise Point Golf Complex in Smithville until his retirement.
Wendell was a member of the Gower Christian Church where he volunteered on many work projects. He spent 59 years as a Mason in King City and Gower and was honored in 2016 after 50 years of service as a Master Mason. He was a youth baseball coach for many different teams. He was always a passionate sports fan; he loved the MU Tigers, NWMSU Bearcats, KC Chiefs, and his beloved St. Louis Cardinals. Wendell also enjoyed playing golf in his later years and was proud of his nickname, “Fairway Ford.”
He is survived by his children, Debbie (Dave) McDonald and Doug (Holly) Ford; grandchildren, Connor McDonald, Camryn McDonald and Syd Ford; brother, Delmar Ray Ford; nieces and nephews, and many friends.
Masonic Service and Celebration of Life at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 27th with visitation following until 8:00 p.m. at Hixson-Klein Funeral Home, Gower, MO.
