Debra Ford

Debra L. Ford, 72, of rural Portland, passed away Saturday morning, Aug. 30, at her home with her family at her side. 

Born March 6, 1953, to Keith and Joan Stein in Jay County, she married Dennis Ford on Oct. 21, 1973, who survives. 

Also surviving are three children, Kerry Ann Guerrero (husband: Mike) of Oviedo, Florida, Christopher Stein Ford (wife: Mabel) of Celina, Texas, and Audrea Lynne Cayetano (husband: Nick) of Indianapolis; three grandchildren, Olivia Guerrero and Grayson and Luke Ford; two sisters, Connie Jarrell of Kokomo and Cindy Tedder of Columbia, South Carolina. 

Debra graduated from Portland High School Class of 1972 and was a proud member of the Marching Grenadier Guard Band. Debra worked several jobs after high school including CTS and Berco of Berne and up until last fall she and her mother cleaned several houses. She and her husband were also custodians of the First Presbyterian Church. But her favorite was being one of the ECE teachers at the First Presbyterian Church Preschool for many years. 

Debra was also very involved with the church, being a longtime Sunday School teacher, where she had been a member since 1982. She kept her church decorated for each season. Debra will be greatly missed by her family and by her church family and friends.

 A memorial service celebrating Debra’s life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 402 N. Ship St., Portland, on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 1 p.m. 

Baird-Freeman Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Donations can be made to the First Presbyterian Church, Jay County Cancer Society and Jay County Humane Shelter. 

Arrangements are being handled by the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home in Portland. 

Condolences may be expressed at bairdfreeman.com.