Billy Ray Ford

Billy Ray Ford, 91, of Cooper, Texas passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.  Billy Ray was born November 10, 1932, to Charles and Laura Ford of Cooper, Texas.  After graduating from Cooper High School, Billy Ray moved to Dallas where he briefly worked before enlisting in the military.  Billy Ray served his country in the National Guard, then the United States Air Force, then the Air Force Reserves.  He was stationed in Okinawa, Japan and was honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sargent.  After he completed basic training, Billy Ray married his high school sweetheart, Jaletta “Ann” Gibbs.  They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in December, 2023.

After his military service, Billy Ray moved to Dallas and worked while attending night school to train in the new and evolving industry of electronics repair.  He worked for a few different companies repairing electronics until he started his own company, Ranford Electronics. 

Billy Ray was very artistic and creative.  As a teenager, he taught himself to play the guitar, and as an adult, taught himself to play the banjo.  He was also a very talented artist and artisan, creating portrait drawings, paintings, leatherworks, wood carvings and other decorative wood pieces including shelves and oil lamp displays and various scroll saw projects.

In his leisure, he and Ann were members of bowling leagues for many years and after retirement he bowled in leagues with his two sons.  As the children were growing up, there were many camping trips to Cedar Creek Lake and Lake O’ the Pines, as well as fishing trips from the docks of Lake Ray Hubbard.  A consummate handyman, Billy Ray was usually busy with various home improvement projects and repairs.  Or he could be found in the backyard tending to the vegetable garden.

Billy Ray and Ann left Dallas and returned to Cooper 18 years ago for the nostalgia of their childhood and to enjoy the slower pace of small-town life during their retirement.  They became members, made many new friends, and were very active in New Hope Church.

Billy Ray is survived by his wife of 70 years, Jaletta “Ann” Ford of Cooper; his six children:  Charlotte Moran of Cooper, Denise Jones and her husband Dennis of Prosper, Evan Ford and his wife Bettie of Mesquite, Felecia Eaton and her husband Brian of Fort Worth, Gwen Rios and her husband Sonny of Cedar Hill, and Heath Ford of Dallas; his eight grandchildren:  Robert Moran of Cooper, Cory Ford and his wife Brittany of Georgetown, Matthew Ford of Terrell, Taylor Cansler of Austin, Bryant Ford of Dallas, Katelyn DeMars and her husband Cody of Carrollton, Benjamin Eaton and his partner Hannah Stanton of Ferndale, Michigan, and Grace Rios of Cedar Hill; and his three great grandchildren: Nevan Moran, Dirk Moran, and Claire Ford.  He is also survived by several other relatives, including in-laws, nieces and nephews, cousins, as well as numerous friends in Cooper and beyond.

Billy Ray’s family would like to thank Chambers Hospice for their support and care.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00, Saturday, March 9, 2024, at New Hope Church Family Life Center, 1301 SW 8th Street, Cooper, TX 75432-3713.  Memorials may be sent to New Hope Church.

Online condolences may be made at www.deltafuneralhome.com

Services entrusted to Delta Funeral Home

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Billy Ray Ford, please visit our floral store.