Olliemay Heffner Ford

Olliemay Heffner Ford

A memorial service celebrating the life of Olliemay Heffner Ford will be held in the First United Methodist Church of Silsbee with the Rev. Dr. Dan C. Darby and the Rev. Nancy M. Ratchford officiating on Sunday, September 1, 2013, at 3:00 p.m., with a reception in McDonough Hall.

Olliemay Heffner Ford died peacefully on Monday, August 19, 2013, surrounded by her family at Baptist Hospital in Beaumont, Texas, a few days after celebrating her 94th birthday with all of her seven children.

Olliemay was born in Wells, Cherokee County, Texas, on Friday, August 15, 1919, the first of three children to May Gough Heffner and Oliver Daniels Heffner.

She was predeceased by her parents; husband, Robert Franklin Ford, Sr.; brother, John Lysius Heffner; brother-in-law, Richard Aloysius Murphy; and sons-in-law: Howard Eugene McDaniel, James Windell Broughton, Cameron Chapman Harris, Jr., and the Honorable Britton Edward Plunk.

Olliemay is survived by her children:  Robert F. Ford, Jr., and his wife, Mary Jo, of Beaumont; Dannah Ford of Beaumont; Ellen Ford Baldwin of North Carolina; Jan Ford Plunk of Silsbee; Era N. Ford and her husband, Jaroslav Ryšavý, of Houston; the Honorable Erin O. Ford and his wife, Geneva, of Crockett; and Arthur Lee Ford of Silsbee; 15 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; her sister, Dorothy Murphy of Wylie and Fulshear; her sister-in-law, Bennie Heffner of Gladewater; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; and lifelong childhood friend Ellen Gaspard of McEwen, Tennessee.

A descendant of pioneer families, Olliemay enjoyed recalling stories that included as a teenager riding across Texas in a 1932 Model T Ford with her maternal grandfather, the Honorable Lysius Gough, to the Panhandle where he had served as the first mayor of Hereford in Deaf Smith County and the first County Judge of Castro County, as well as being a cowboy poet on early cattle drives, lobbyist and land developer.  Her favorite memories were of Avoca near Rogers, Arkansas, where she spent summers with her paternal grandparents.

Her family moved to Beaumont in 1926 when her father joined her uncle, L.B. Gough, in working at the Magnolia Refinery. She attended Ogden Elementary, skipping the third grade, followed by David Crockett Junior High.  She graduated from Beaumont High School in May 1936 at the age of 16.  Activities included writing for the school newspaper, Choral Club, and the Pine Burr yearbook with plans to pursue a career in art.

Olliemay attended Lamar College during the Fall 1936 and Spring 1937 semesters, with the report cards found among her keepsakes.  Despite starting the fall semester six weeks late with the dean saying that she could never make up the assignments, she surprised everyone.

She was an avid reader with an extensive vocabulary, compiling her own personal collection of quotations over the years.  Her early interests included piano, gardening, needlework and hosting a monthly Sewing Circle, while her sense of humor and love of music sustained her throughout her life.

Olliemay and Bob were married on June 11, 1938, by Nolan R. Vance, Minister, and remained so for 68 years until his death on June 12, 2006.

Having moved many times during her childhood and early marriage, it is notable that the construction of a new home in Silsbee in the Britton-Cravens subdivision was completed on August 31, 1955, providing continuity for the next 58 years.  With help from her children, Olliemay managed to remain in her home until her last year of life.

Her parents were founding members of the First Christian Church, both in Beaumont and Silsbee.  The Ford family was active in the First United Methodist Church in Silsbee for decades.  Olliemay had a quiet faith grounded in knowledge of Scripture from an early age, a love of God and Jesus Christ.

During World War II, she was employed by Magnolia Petroleum Company, and thereafter continued to use the original Social Security card issued then.  She worked as a bookkeeper most of her life, first for Ford Electric Company in Silsbee, then in 1968 for five years for Apache Lumber Company, and finally for FECO, Inc. next to the Mobil Refinery in Beaumont.

Her qualities set her apart.  She loved deeply and was steadfast.  She was loyal and maintained friendships over the years. She worked tirelessly for her family and made celebrations special, when the extended families looked forward to the wonderful meals that she prepared.

Her legacy is her children who are fortunate to have known her into adulthood and to have been able to share their accomplishments with her.  She instilled in her children a love of learning with all attending college.  She also encouraged them to develop as individuals, with different strengths and imagination.

The family is grateful for care provided by the staffs of Beaumont Internal Medicine and Geriatric Associates, Advanced Cardiovascular Specialists, Golden Triangle Foot & Ankle Specialists and Texas Total Care.

Interment during a private family service was held on Wednesday, August 21, 2013, with the Rev. Nancy M. Ratchford officiating at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Beaumont under the direction of Broussard’s Silsbee.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to:  First United Methodist Church, 670 North Fifth Street, Silsbee, TX 77656, (409) 385-5568; or Tyrrell Historical Library, 695 Pearl Street, Beaumont, TX 77701, (409) 833-2759.