Bessie Cox FORD

FORD, Bessie Cox passed away April 25, 2017 at her home in Tucson, Arizona. She was born November 15, 1928 in Birmingham, Alabama, the only child of Clayton and Willie May Cox. Her family moved to Washington, DC for work during the Depression when Bessie was seven. There she attended Western High School, now the home of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. She received a Sociology degree from Lynchburg College and married Lt. Charles D. (Chuck) Ford. They had three children and their life as a military family sent them all over the U. S., including Alaska, before settling in Tucson. Bessie's love of travel took her to destinations in Asia, Australia, Europe and she spent many happy summers camping, fishing and berry picking in Alaska. When home in Tucson, she enjoyed reading, gardening and being active in Girl Scouts, Sertoma, Rincon Congregational Church, PS Civitan and Pima County Special Olympics. Her youngest daughter, Laurel, was born with Down Syndrome and Bessie became a tireless advocate for deinstitutionalizing, educating and caring about children and adults with DS. Bessie is predeceased by her husband of sixty years, Chuck, and daughter, Laurel Ann Ford. She is survived by her son and caregiver, Charlie Ford of Tucson and daughter, Robin Dale Ford and son-in-law, Pat Fitzgerald of Fairbanks, Alaska who will greatly miss her. Family and friends will gather in Tucson later in the year to remember and celebrate her life. No flowers please, but donations can be made to Pima County Special Olympics.