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Ted DeFord Obituary
Ted DeFord, 95, of Jacksonville, passed away Thursday, December 6, 2007, at his home. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 11, at Conger~Morris Medford Chapel, 715 W. Main St. Visitation will be Monday, December 10, from 3:00-7:30 p.m. Chaplain John Braun will officiate. He will be buried in Panky Cemetery.
Ted was born in 1911 in Sam's Valley. He married his wife, Ethel, in November, 1958, in Carson City, Nev. He owned Ted DeFord Truck Shop, but his passion was aircraft. He was a member of Oregon Pilots Association.
He is suvived by his son, Ted DeFord; daughter, Barbara Strauss; niece, Debbie McEwen; eight grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. His wife, Ethel and his daughter, Esther Perry, preceded him in death.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Asante Hospice.
Arrangements by Conger~Morris Funeral Directors, Medford 772-7111.
Memories and Condolences
for Ted DeFord
5 Entries
Ralph Wiley
January 13, 2021
Ted and Ethel were the greatest people I have ever known! It was an honor to work for them for a number of years. Ted taught me a lot in the industry and provided a lot of friendship as well. The best employer I ever had. They don’t make them like that anymore. You will be missed by many!
Bill Coleman
December 9, 2007
I did not have the privilege to know Ted as well and as long as some. I worked for Ted DeFord Jr. at DSU Peterbilt for 8 ½ years. Ted and Ethel would go to breakfast and then stop by the dealership. Ted would come in to say hi to his son while always acknowledging everyone by name. He did this until he had to tend to Ethel at home. He would come in to the dealership occasionally and would always have a pleasant HI for everyone by name. I never heard an unpleasant word said about him, in fact Ted Jr. always referred to him as his Hero.
Judy Hansen Jones
December 9, 2007
Growing up with Ted DeFord as my fathers best friend, I will always remember going to his home and falling asleep in his big chair while the folks visited. We all had a great time at Ted's. We would go target shooting after he and Dad reloaded shells and had a good time. What a great person he was! He and Ethel were like second parents to all of us Hansen Kids. He named my first brother "John" and the folks named him Kenneth. The next boy was named John for Ted and he called him "Nick". When our faher passed away my brother John called to let Ted know and he introduced himself as "Nick Hansen". Ted always called the boys his names for them. We really enjoyed both Ted and Ethel. They were Great People.
Roger Blank
December 8, 2007
Ted DeFord was a "Great Man". Many a Trucker was given much by him. He helped others when most would have turn them out, and never expected anything in return, though the most never forgot the low times when Ted helped them.
One of my favorite things, that he did, "nah you don't owe anything, come back when we can really help you", I can't remenber the number of times I heard him say that.
Ted DeFord was one of the best mentors in my life. He taught me many lessons as I worked for him for 16 years. Honor, courage and having a work ethic, were among a few. Life lessons that I took with me.
As well as his sense of wit. "Handier then a Shirt Pocket", "Stacked up so high, two tall Swedes couldn't shake hands over it" were just a couple that I will never forget and use often.
Ted DeFord will be missed, he was a Good man and when you look around, there are not many of those to be found, anymore.
A lot of who I am and who I became was due to him.
Thank you Ted.
HARRY WALKER
December 8, 2007
TED AND ETHEL WERE GREAT EXAMPLES OF FRIENDS AND BUSINESS OWNERS. I ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO VISITING THEM ON MY TRIPS TO OR. I WOULD STOP AT THE SHOP TO HAVE WORK DONE ON MY TRUCK EVEN IF IT WAS NOT NEEDED. HARRY WALKER
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