LaJoy Ford

(From Clark Funeral Home)

I firmly believe, ‘always, without fail….put God first in your life’. LaJoy Ford, 1933-2024

LaJoy Ford was born on May 8, 1933, in Wilson, Oklahoma, one of five children to Calvin Aaron and Lillie Mae (Harris) Caldwell. She entered into rest on April 1, 2024, in Neosho, Missouri, at the age of 90. 

LaJoy graduated from Gainesville, Texas High School in 1951. In 1952, LaJoy and Carl Ford were united in marriage at Ft. Worth, Texas. LaJoy had worked at S.H. Kress in Gainesville, Texas and in 1954, Carl and LaJoy moved to Goodman, Missouri, where they operated the Goodman Laundromat and also worked at and lived in the funeral home in Goodman. She then worked at McGinty’s as a sales clerk, buyer, and bookkeeper for many years. 

 Together, LaJoy and Carl owned and operated Carl Ford Realty and Insurance until selling the business in the early 1980’s. Both Carl and LaJoy were licensed private pilots and enjoyed flying to different places in their aircraft. They traveled extensively through the United States in their travel trailer and mobile home, traveling with thirty-one different friends. LaJoy’s best times were raising their family and spending time together. 

A deeply spiritual woman, LaJoy attended the Assembly of God Church in Gainesville, Texas, May Community Church in Goodman, and Anderson Full Gospel. She served as a Sunday school teacher and church pianist and also played the accordion and marimba and sang in a Ladies Gospel Quartet. 

LaJoy is survived by two daughters, Debbie Cooper and husband, David of Key West, Florida and Carla Hasche of Silverdale, Washington: seven grandchildren, Adam Cooper, Karl Hasche, Viktor Hasche-Kluender, Kassandra Campbell, Stephan Hasche, Devin Cooper and Anna Hasche-Kluender and eight great-grandchildren. 

She is preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Carl Ford, a grandson, Max Benno Hasche-Kluender; her parents; three brothers and one sister. 

Funeral services will be held at 2 pm, Friday, April 5, 2024, at the Clark Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, Dr. Jerry Seigel will officiate. Interment will follow in the Anderson Cemetery and serving as pallbearers will be Adam Cooper, Kassandra Campbell, Devin Cooper, Anna Hasche-Kluender, Steve Kenny and Dan Royce. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1 pm until service time. 

Contributions in memory of LaJoy may be made to the Oak Pointe Activities Fund, 2601 Oak Ridge Ext, Neosho, MO 64850

Online condolences may be posted at www.clarkfuneralhomes.com

Services are under the direction of Clark Funeral Home, Neosho, MO.