Lois Evelyn Ford

Lois Evelyn (Hilliard) Ford, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully Friday, January 30, 2026, in Denison, Texas, at the age of 94.

Lois was born on April 14, 1931, in Denison, Texas, to William Hilliard and Bobbie Lee (Allen) Hilliard at the neighborhood hospital, Halloway Hospital. She was the third of seven children and grew up in a strong faith-based and educated family. Lois attended Langston Elementary and graduated from Terrell High School before continuing her education at Huston–Tillotson University in Austin, Texas.

Lois was raised in Pleasant Grove Baptist Church-a church founded by her grandfather, William Hilliard, along with other respected Denison natives. Keeping with family traditions of faith and service, from her early teens she was a member of Queen Elizabeth Chapter of the Eastern Stars until poor health interfered with her daily activities. Later in life, she became a resolute member of Hopewell Baptist Church, where she was active in the Women's Missionary and found great joy in helping with Women's Day programs and other church activities. She established herself as a valued member and valued friend to many.

While growing up surrounded by older brothers who served in the military, Lois met and married TSgt. Willie F. Ford on September 2,1952. They traveled and raised children, across the country and abroad-from Alabama to Germany-before returning and settling in Denison, Texas.

In addition to caring for her family, Lois worked for Levi Strauss & Company and later dedicated 37 years to a fulfilling career at Texas Instruments, retiring in 1990. Her strong work ethic and dedication were hallmarks of her character.

A woman of faith, grace, and quiet strength, Lois found joy in life's simple pleasures-reading, watching vintage westerns and mysteries, and tending to her flower garden. Her yard was always carefully maintained, and her numerous rose bushes flourished, sometimes into the winter months. Her main source of joy would be her children's successes and the many great-grandchildren whose voice filled her home on a daily basis.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents, William, and Bobbie Lee Hilliard; her beloved husband, Willie F. Ford; her brothers, William, Robert, Oliver, and Tommy Joe; and her sister, Rosemary.

She is lovingly survived by her sister, Bessie Louise of Terre Haute, Indiana; two sons, Anthony (Glenda) Ford of Radcliffe, KY and Ronald A. Ford (Cheryl) of West Covina, California; two daughters, Evelyn S. Cooper and Patricia E. Ford-Teague (Hosie); twelve grandchildren; twenty-five great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews who will cherish her memory.

Lois's quiet legacy of love, faith, and devotion will continue to live on in all who were blessed to know her. She will always be remembered for being the rule, not the exception for who a true lady should strive to become.

Funeral service for Mrs. Ford will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Hopewell Baptist Church with Pastor Michael Braxton officiating. Interment will follow in Cedarlawn Memorial Park in Sherman, Texas. She will lie in state Friday, February 6, 2026, from 10- 5 p.m. at Fisher Funeral Hom

Pallbearers will be Jamal Cooper, Kelvin Ford, Ronald Ford II, Gregory Owens, Barry Malvern, and Ronald Wimbish.

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