Gerry Ford … Born to Lily and William Ford … June 8, 1948 … He was the sixth child of 14 … and was raised in Fresno, California.
He was the life long partner & husband to Carol (Crader) Ford for 41 years.
The early years were not the easiest growing up and he and his siblings had to learn to scrap for what they wanted and also learned that retreating from others was not going to happen. Schools couldn't keep Gerry's interest and so he would sneak out. Truant officers soon knew Gerry well and labeled him "Fleet Foot Ford" because they had a tough time catching him when he ran.
As he grew, he was constantly keeping his sisters under his protection. If any one knew the Ford family they knew the girls were off limits. Many a boy discovered Gerry was … well … rather physical first and verbal later, when they tried dating or getting too close to his sisters.
Gerry grew up strong minded, street tough and with a will to win. Cars, eventually, became his passion. Dismantling them … then reassembling them, from the body to the engine. He learned what they were about and how they operated. His favorite car ... a yellow Plymouth 1970 GTX. He bought that car from a junk yard ... repaired it … over and over again and he learned how to make it fast … street racing fast, "Fleet Foot Ford" stopped wearing out shoes and started wearing out tires. He found his passion that now would be his life's career.
Gerry didn't have any formal training or go to auto mechanics school … he learned his trade as on-the-job-training … observing, questioning and doing.
In 1974 he settled his family in Des Moines, bring with him is his mother & sisters. He had little trouble getting work, as Des Moines had plenty of car lots and a need for auto mechanics.
Gerry understood cars and how to repair them. When asked how he knew where all the wiring went ... His reply was he just knew … didn't know how, he knew … he just did.
As the auto industry changed, so did Gerry's knowledge … always learning and never backing away from an auto or pickup repair problem. Then again, he never backed away from anything or anyone ... strong minded … staying the course … He worked long hard hours ... raised four daughters and refused any assistance in raising and supporting them. His family, his responsibility, and he didn't take that lightly.
To his friends ... he was there to help them … back them up … what ever he could do, he would … he knew also he could rely on them … there was unspoken-true understanding with in his circle of friends.
As a first meeting with Gerry ... he was rather serious and stern. Over time you learned his seriousness was mixed with a lot of ... dry humor… that you probably missed at one time or another. Then again…you could walk away scratching your head, not sure if he was joking or not. He could defiantly get your attention and make you laugh at, any given time.
In reflection a person could say he lived hard, worked hard and played hard. As true as that was…his friends and family understood, Gerry enjoyed life ... enjoyed his work … and enjoyed his play time, or racing time.
About ten years ago…Gerry was introduced to the world of computers … he discovered he could access all kinds of automotive information on the internet, which would assist him in his trade. He was also instructed and learned how he could scan and save pictures which he accumulated lots of family pictures and he stored them into files & folders and he learned to print them to paper along with other interest data. Something new to learn…always learning and oh yes, something new to dismantle and reassemble. After all … he had to know how it worked the best they could.
When Gerry experienced his first heart attack and later the diagnosis of cancer ... he didn't give in or quit. He faced his life adversaries straight on and challenged them … He also came to know and understand his strength in life, over these past years was family, family that loved him could now step up and say … it was their turn to support him … to give back all the help, love and reassurances of life he now needed.
Now they were his strength and he knew he could rely on them.
Gerry Ford
Never stopped learning
Never backing down
And to his family, … he never stopped loving.
Cynthia Ann Crader Grubbs
Grave Memorial# 127647461
Was Gerry's sister in-law.
He was the life long partner & husband to Carol (Crader) Ford for 41 years.
The early years were not the easiest growing up and he and his siblings had to learn to scrap for what they wanted and also learned that retreating from others was not going to happen. Schools couldn't keep Gerry's interest and so he would sneak out. Truant officers soon knew Gerry well and labeled him "Fleet Foot Ford" because they had a tough time catching him when he ran.
As he grew, he was constantly keeping his sisters under his protection. If any one knew the Ford family they knew the girls were off limits. Many a boy discovered Gerry was … well … rather physical first and verbal later, when they tried dating or getting too close to his sisters.
Gerry grew up strong minded, street tough and with a will to win. Cars, eventually, became his passion. Dismantling them … then reassembling them, from the body to the engine. He learned what they were about and how they operated. His favorite car ... a yellow Plymouth 1970 GTX. He bought that car from a junk yard ... repaired it … over and over again and he learned how to make it fast … street racing fast, "Fleet Foot Ford" stopped wearing out shoes and started wearing out tires. He found his passion that now would be his life's career.
Gerry didn't have any formal training or go to auto mechanics school … he learned his trade as on-the-job-training … observing, questioning and doing.
In 1974 he settled his family in Des Moines, bring with him is his mother & sisters. He had little trouble getting work, as Des Moines had plenty of car lots and a need for auto mechanics.
Gerry understood cars and how to repair them. When asked how he knew where all the wiring went ... His reply was he just knew … didn't know how, he knew … he just did.
As the auto industry changed, so did Gerry's knowledge … always learning and never backing away from an auto or pickup repair problem. Then again, he never backed away from anything or anyone ... strong minded … staying the course … He worked long hard hours ... raised four daughters and refused any assistance in raising and supporting them. His family, his responsibility, and he didn't take that lightly.
To his friends ... he was there to help them … back them up … what ever he could do, he would … he knew also he could rely on them … there was unspoken-true understanding with in his circle of friends.
As a first meeting with Gerry ... he was rather serious and stern. Over time you learned his seriousness was mixed with a lot of ... dry humor… that you probably missed at one time or another. Then again…you could walk away scratching your head, not sure if he was joking or not. He could defiantly get your attention and make you laugh at, any given time.
In reflection a person could say he lived hard, worked hard and played hard. As true as that was…his friends and family understood, Gerry enjoyed life ... enjoyed his work … and enjoyed his play time, or racing time.
About ten years ago…Gerry was introduced to the world of computers … he discovered he could access all kinds of automotive information on the internet, which would assist him in his trade. He was also instructed and learned how he could scan and save pictures which he accumulated lots of family pictures and he stored them into files & folders and he learned to print them to paper along with other interest data. Something new to learn…always learning and oh yes, something new to dismantle and reassemble. After all … he had to know how it worked the best they could.
When Gerry experienced his first heart attack and later the diagnosis of cancer ... he didn't give in or quit. He faced his life adversaries straight on and challenged them … He also came to know and understand his strength in life, over these past years was family, family that loved him could now step up and say … it was their turn to support him … to give back all the help, love and reassurances of life he now needed.
Now they were his strength and he knew he could rely on them.
Gerry Ford
Never stopped learning
Never backing down
And to his family, … he never stopped loving.
Cynthia Ann Crader Grubbs
Grave Memorial# 127647461
Was Gerry's sister in-law.
Gerry Ford … Born to Lily and William Ford … June 8, 1948 … He was the sixth child of 14 … and was raised in Fresno, California.
He was the life long partner & husband to Carol (Crader) Ford for 41 years.
The early years were not the easiest growing up and he and his siblings had to learn to scrap for what they wanted and also learned that retreating from others was not going to happen. Schools couldn't keep Gerry's interest and so he would sneak out. Truant officers soon knew Gerry well and labeled him "Fleet Foot Ford" because they had a tough time catching him when he ran.
As he grew, he was constantly keeping his sisters under his protection. If any one knew the Ford family they knew the girls were off limits. Many a boy discovered Gerry was … well … rather physical first and verbal later, when they tried dating or getting too close to his sisters.
Gerry grew up strong minded, street tough and with a will to win. Cars, eventually, became his passion. Dismantling them … then reassembling them, from the body to the engine. He learned what they were about and how they operated. His favorite car ... a yellow Plymouth 1970 GTX. He bought that car from a junk yard ... repaired it … over and over again and he learned how to make it fast … street racing fast, "Fleet Foot Ford" stopped wearing out shoes and started wearing out tires. He found his passion that now would be his life's career.
Gerry didn't have any formal training or go to auto mechanics school … he learned his trade as on-the-job-training … observing, questioning and doing.
In 1974 he settled his family in Des Moines, bring with him is his mother & sisters. He had little trouble getting work, as Des Moines had plenty of car lots and a need for auto mechanics.
Gerry understood cars and how to repair them. When asked how he knew where all the wiring went ... His reply was he just knew … didn't know how, he knew … he just did.
As the auto industry changed, so did Gerry's knowledge … always learning and never backing away from an auto or pickup repair problem. Then again, he never backed away from anything or anyone ... strong minded … staying the course … He worked long hard hours ... raised four daughters and refused any assistance in raising and supporting them. His family, his responsibility, and he didn't take that lightly.
To his friends ... he was there to help them … back them up … what ever he could do, he would … he knew also he could rely on them … there was unspoken-true understanding with in his circle of friends.
As a first meeting with Gerry ... he was rather serious and stern. Over time you learned his seriousness was mixed with a lot of ... dry humor… that you probably missed at one time or another. Then again…you could walk away scratching your head, not sure if he was joking or not. He could defiantly get your attention and make you laugh at, any given time.
In reflection a person could say he lived hard, worked hard and played hard. As true as that was…his friends and family understood, Gerry enjoyed life ... enjoyed his work … and enjoyed his play time, or racing time.
About ten years ago…Gerry was introduced to the world of computers … he discovered he could access all kinds of automotive information on the internet, which would assist him in his trade. He was also instructed and learned how he could scan and save pictures which he accumulated lots of family pictures and he stored them into files & folders and he learned to print them to paper along with other interest data. Something new to learn…always learning and oh yes, something new to dismantle and reassemble. After all … he had to know how it worked the best they could.
When Gerry experienced his first heart attack and later the diagnosis of cancer ... he didn't give in or quit. He faced his life adversaries straight on and challenged them … He also came to know and understand his strength in life, over these past years was family, family that loved him could now step up and say … it was their turn to support him … to give back all the help, love and reassurances of life he now needed.
Now they were his strength and he knew he could rely on them.
Gerry Ford
Never stopped learning
Never backing down
And to his family, … he never stopped loving.
Cynthia Ann Crader Grubbs
Grave Memorial# 127647461
Was Gerry's sister in-law.
He was the life long partner & husband to Carol (Crader) Ford for 41 years.
The early years were not the easiest growing up and he and his siblings had to learn to scrap for what they wanted and also learned that retreating from others was not going to happen. Schools couldn't keep Gerry's interest and so he would sneak out. Truant officers soon knew Gerry well and labeled him "Fleet Foot Ford" because they had a tough time catching him when he ran.
As he grew, he was constantly keeping his sisters under his protection. If any one knew the Ford family they knew the girls were off limits. Many a boy discovered Gerry was … well … rather physical first and verbal later, when they tried dating or getting too close to his sisters.
Gerry grew up strong minded, street tough and with a will to win. Cars, eventually, became his passion. Dismantling them … then reassembling them, from the body to the engine. He learned what they were about and how they operated. His favorite car ... a yellow Plymouth 1970 GTX. He bought that car from a junk yard ... repaired it … over and over again and he learned how to make it fast … street racing fast, "Fleet Foot Ford" stopped wearing out shoes and started wearing out tires. He found his passion that now would be his life's career.
Gerry didn't have any formal training or go to auto mechanics school … he learned his trade as on-the-job-training … observing, questioning and doing.
In 1974 he settled his family in Des Moines, bring with him is his mother & sisters. He had little trouble getting work, as Des Moines had plenty of car lots and a need for auto mechanics.
Gerry understood cars and how to repair them. When asked how he knew where all the wiring went ... His reply was he just knew … didn't know how, he knew … he just did.
As the auto industry changed, so did Gerry's knowledge … always learning and never backing away from an auto or pickup repair problem. Then again, he never backed away from anything or anyone ... strong minded … staying the course … He worked long hard hours ... raised four daughters and refused any assistance in raising and supporting them. His family, his responsibility, and he didn't take that lightly.
To his friends ... he was there to help them … back them up … what ever he could do, he would … he knew also he could rely on them … there was unspoken-true understanding with in his circle of friends.
As a first meeting with Gerry ... he was rather serious and stern. Over time you learned his seriousness was mixed with a lot of ... dry humor… that you probably missed at one time or another. Then again…you could walk away scratching your head, not sure if he was joking or not. He could defiantly get your attention and make you laugh at, any given time.
In reflection a person could say he lived hard, worked hard and played hard. As true as that was…his friends and family understood, Gerry enjoyed life ... enjoyed his work … and enjoyed his play time, or racing time.
About ten years ago…Gerry was introduced to the world of computers … he discovered he could access all kinds of automotive information on the internet, which would assist him in his trade. He was also instructed and learned how he could scan and save pictures which he accumulated lots of family pictures and he stored them into files & folders and he learned to print them to paper along with other interest data. Something new to learn…always learning and oh yes, something new to dismantle and reassemble. After all … he had to know how it worked the best they could.
When Gerry experienced his first heart attack and later the diagnosis of cancer ... he didn't give in or quit. He faced his life adversaries straight on and challenged them … He also came to know and understand his strength in life, over these past years was family, family that loved him could now step up and say … it was their turn to support him … to give back all the help, love and reassurances of life he now needed.
Now they were his strength and he knew he could rely on them.
Gerry Ford
Never stopped learning
Never backing down
And to his family, … he never stopped loving.
Cynthia Ann Crader Grubbs
Grave Memorial# 127647461
Was Gerry's sister in-law.
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