Warren Edward "Ed" Ford, III passed away Sunday, February 15, at the age of 81. Ed was born and raised on a small farm due west of Coyle. He attended and graduated from Coyle Public Schools where he met his future wife, Gail Louann Nivens. After graduating in 1954, he joined the Army and served as an instructor in the Chemical Corps at Fort McClellen, Alabama. On Christmas leave, he proposed to Gail and they were married on June 21, 1956.
By 1957, Ed and Gail had purchased a farm and built a home in southwest Payne County. At the height of his farming career Ed had 12,000 acres of wheat, 100 head of cattle, and several horses; on a smaller scale, he continued to farm until his death.
Ed served on numerous boards in many different capacities. He was a member of the Farmer's Cooperative Association in Perry and Tonkawa and served on the board for 20 years; 12 of them as the Chairman. Shortly after joining the Perry board he was elected to the Triangle Cooperative Service Company's board of directors where he was key in helping establish the Triangle Insurance Company.
He enjoyed living a life of service throughout his community. Ed loved to rope and served as Rodeo Chairman for the Guthrie 89er Rodeo for 16 years and as faithful member the Coyle Christian Church he served as Chairman of the Board for 17. He was a 4-H mentor and heavily involved with local and county livestock shows.
Since 2008, Ed served on the Central Rural Electric Cooperative Foundation and was serving as the President of his district at the time of his death. He also served on the board of directors for the Payne County Farmers Union.
Ed leaves behind two daughters, Lisa Christy and husband Daryl; Lori Cooksey and husband Chad; six grandchildren, Joshua O'Neal and wife Jessica; Lance Phillips and wife Sarah; Kyle Phillips and wife Sarah; Eric Cammiso; Chandler Payne; and Melissa Padelford; six great grandchildren, Jacob, Katie, and Kenzie O'Neal and Mason, Hadleigh, and Harper Phillips.
He was preceeded in death by his wife of 56 years, Gail; his parents, Warren Edward, II and Grace Elizabeth Ford; his sisters Jesse Goodsol and Rose Downey; and a grandson, Mathew Padelford.
Service will be held at 1:00 PM, on Thursday, February 19, 2015 at the First Christian Church in Coyle with Rev. John Pryor and Rev. Bill Parks officiating. Interment will follow at Coyle Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Hayes Funeral Home.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 1:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Hayes Funeral Home, 117 E. Noble, in Guthrie.
Friends and family may sign the online guestbook at www.hayesfh.com.