MEADE – Bessie B. Ford, age 93, died Saturday morning, July 28, 2012, at the Village of the Creek Nursing Center, Independence, Missouri.

She was born June 15, 1919, at the Odee Township, Kansas, the daughter of Frederick Austin and Ella Ruth (Meals) Graham. As a young girl she attended the Ashland school system, graduating from Ashland High School. Upon her graduation she lived in Wichita where she worked for Boeing for several years. She later returned to Meade, where she began her career as an entrepreneur, owning several businesses including, the Meade Café, Ford's Body Shop, Ford's Car Wash, the Cottonwood Motel and Overnight Campground, all in Meade.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church, the Maya Club, and the Garden Club. She enjoyed gardening, playing cards, archery, golfing, fishing, deer hunting, making wedding and birthday cakes.

She married Clarence Ford, the couple later divorced.

She is survived by:
A daughter, Peggy Montgomery of Grain Valley, Missouri

A sister, Nadine Curtis of Pamona, California

Two grandchildren, Erin and Amy Montgomery, and Stacey Alexander

Five great-grandchildren, Tyler, Reese, and Ella Montgomery
Marie and Lilly Alexander

She is preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Chester Graham, Frederick Graham, and Lester Elzea; and two sisters, Dorothy Graham and Evelyn Wilson.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 1, 2012, at Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary Chapel, Meade, with the Reverend Dick Robbins presiding. Friends may call from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday with the family present from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow in the Stone Schoolhouse Cemetery, rural Meade, Kansas.

The family would welcome memorials to the Whitehead Scholarship Fund in care of the funeral home.