Dorothy Ford

Dorothy B. Ford, 78, died July 19, 2007 at her Long Beach residence. The daughter of Ruben and Gertrude (Driscoll) Ashton, she was born in Calistoga, California on December 15, 1928. As a child her lived with her family in Calistoga, Portland, Oregon and San Francisco, CA and along the way received her education. In the mid 1940s she moved to the Peninsula. Here she worked as a waitress in a local restaurant and met and married Clarence Wray. In 1953 the family moved to Anderson, CA. There she raised her family, sold Stanley Products and managed a pizza lounge. She and Clarence agreed to a divorce in 1980 and that year she returned to Long Beach. She married Elmer Ford February 28, 1981 and they lived in Long Beach. She worked as a supervisor at Jesse's Seafoods in Ilwaco and then retired. She was a member of the Lutheran church and volunteered at the Outreach Thrift Store in Long Beach. Dorothy loved her years living on the Peninsula. She was a member of local bowling leagues and loved making visits to the South Pacific County Humane Society. She enjoyed crocheting and was a talented seamstress and doll maker. She was also extremely handy in the kitchen, always ready to try new recipes and was known for her apple pies. In past years crabbing, clamming and golf were also enjoyed. Dorothy was blessed with a fun-loving personality and her family was her life.. Dorothy is survived by daughters Elaine McCormick of Centralia, WA and Donna (Rod) Hiler of Pocatello, ID; sons Larry (Luwanna) Ford of Medford, OR, Arnold (Rhetta) Wray of Waynesville, MO, Gary (Ruth) Wray of Long Beach, and Dennis Wray of Redding, CA; brother Frank Ashton of Phoenix, AZ; sisters Shirley Arnett of Redmond, OR, Patricia Allawatt of Shinnston, WV and Jerilyn Handerson of Blythville, NC; 31 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great grandchildren. Also surviving are step-sons Marlin Ford, John Ford, David Ford and Elmer Ford and step-daughter Janice Hatfield. She was preceded in death by her sister Diane Mason, brother Norman Ashton and husband Elmer Ford. Memorial service will be Saturday, August 4, 2007, 2:00 PM at Penttila's Chapel by The Sea, Long Beach. A reception follows at the chapel. Memorials may be made to either the South Pacific County Humane Society or the American Cancer Society in care of Penttila's Chapel, PO Box 417, Long Beach, WA 98631.