of Bartlett, TN

June 26, 1942 - April 4, 2025

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our cherished Dad, our Gramps. Alan Bernard Ford, age 82, of Bartlett, TN passed away Friday, April 4, 2025, at Cordova Wellness Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He left this world peacefully and thankfully surrounded by his two children and most of his grandchildren.

Alan (or Butch, as family and close friends called him) was a man who never knew a stranger and could strike up and carry on a conversation with anyone, anywhere and for any length of time. That was even evident in his recent years as a patient…he loved to tell any caregiver or nurse who did any medical procedure involving a ''stick'' that he used to be a teacher and that he was going to give them a grade on their work. He would regale anyone who had the time with tales of his coaching days, so much so that he took on the nickname ''Coach'' from some of the wonderful people who took care of him.

He loved and was so proud of his kids, grandkids and great-grandchildren and nothing made his smile bigger than looking at photos and videos of the antics of the youngest Ford descendants, his great-grands. The opportunity to see any of them in person was always so cherished.

Dad loved his Arkansas State Red Wolves, or more likely, they gave him a reason to pick red as his favorite color (he almost always wore some shade of red) and change his iPhone ring tone to an obnoxious howling wolf sound that never failed to startle anyone within earshot. In earlier years, he enjoyed a couple of main hobbies-cars (and even working on them) and fly fishing. He loved reading and learning and the mini-series ''Band of Brothers''. He was a talented artist, which translated to a nearly 45 year career with the Memphis City School system. He did freelance work on the side and personally built out the room above the garage of our childhood home to turn it into an office for this work. Mind you, this was before the days when you could Google or YouTube ANYTHING and figure out how to DIY things! He always loved to sing and enjoyed rekindling that love after he and Linda moved to Pickwick and he turned his life back over to the Lord and actually used his beautiful tenor voice in the Pickwick United Methodist Church Choir. Living near a lake was always a retirement dream and he was thrilled when they were able to move to Pickwick once they finally both retired. They bought a pontoon boat and entertained their adult kids and their grandkids with many a boat ride and inner tube pull on that lake.

Mr. Ford was born to Archie and Mary Ford June 26, 1942. He lived in Forrest City, Arkansas with his parents and big brother (Charles) and baby sister (Maribeth) through his childhood, being tagged with the nickname ''Butch'' by his maternal grandfather, Papaw Bernard, from whom we hear he also got his love of storytelling. He enjoyed exploring the hills and valleys around their little house on the lake and sharing ''thoughts and dreams about life'' with his dear friends, Doug Smith and Mike Deaderick, after whom he would later name his son. He played football for his high school team until a knee injury sidelined him. He went away to college at Arkansas State in 1961, majored in Art, was a Sig Ep, and met and married his wife Linda while still in college. After a stay in ''married housing,'' followed by their graduation, they made their home in Memphis, TN, where that 45 year career with the Memphis City Schools began. He taught art and coached various sports at White Station and Sheffield High Schools for a few years, before moving to the Board of Education to serve as a graphic designer for the remainder of his career until his much anticipated retirement in 2005. During those years, he and Linda welcomed their children, Julie and Doug, and he worked very hard (including the aforementioned side gig) to provide for them and eventually took many summer trips to the panhandle of Florida where they had family and Linda's company condo to enjoy. Alan and Linda were blessed to have a great circle of close friends with whom to spend time, travel and grow old. Alan's goal was to see as much of the US as he could and he was blessed and grateful to take several trips with friends to see places like San Francisco and much of the California coast, the Canadian Northwest and Rockies, several of the Hawaiian Islands, an Alaskan cruise and more. They also ventured overseas for a couple of European adventures, including staying in a dreamy Tuscan villa in Italy with Linda's brother Ray and his wife Susan. During these seasons, they welcomed grandchildren and he chose ''Gramps'' as his grandfather name and he remained that for the rest of his years, even being called that by his four great grandchildren. He was thrilled to learn just recently that another one is on the way.

Mr. Ford was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 60 years on January 11, 2023. He is survived by his daughter Julie Van Blaricom and husband Mark of Arlington, TN and son Michael Douglas Ford of Fayette. County, TN, six grandchildren, Parker Van Blaricom (Brynn), Cory Van Blaricom (Aubrey), Zach Van Blaricom (Anna), Madison Ford, Morgan Ford, Michael Ford, Jr., and four great grandchildren Leo, Violet, Boston and Sasha Van Blaricom.

The family would like to express their love and appreciation to the staff at American House Senior Living, where he lived for the last couple of years and especially to some particular caregivers at Cordova Wellness and Rehabilitation for their care for Mr. Ford during his last few months. We would like to single out his favorite caregiver-turned-friend in all of these months, Therone Williams. He was simply wonderful during Dad's final season and made his time in the facility the best it ever could be. What a blessing he was!

Our Dad, Gramps, Uncle Butch, friend to so many…was loved and will be greatly missed until we see him again.

There will be a Celebration of Life Tuesday, April 15 at 2pm at Roller-Citizens Funeral Home in West Memphis, AR.

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