Ellen Ford

Driven and passionate, Ellen Ford never took no, you cant do that for an answer. She had big dreams, and spared no effort to achieve her goals, both professionally and in the community. The list of her achievements and volunteer activities for even one year is longer than what most people achieve in a lifetime! Most remarkably of all, however, is the fact that in the midst of this flurry of activity, Ellen never lost sight of the people in her life. Warm-hearted, sociable, and outgoing, Ellen loved being around people, and was deeply devoted to her friends and beloved family members. Some people may remember Ellens volunteer work at Mercy Hospital; others, her achievements running Pro-Phone Communications; still others, her fabulous and unforgettable Christmas parties. What is truly unforgettable about Ellen, however, is her energy, passion, and commitment; her life will live on as an inspiration in the hearts and memories of all those whose lives she touched. Baby Ellen Ann was born in the year of the first color TV, the inauguration of President Herbert Hoover, and the creation of the Popeye comic strip: 1929, the bridge between the ebullient Roaring Twenties and the sober years of the Great Depression. Her proud parents, M. Gordon and Marie (Kennedy) Holmes welcomed the newest member of their family into Muskegon, Michigan, on May 17, 1929. Ellen and her three siblings, Matthew Gordon (Junior), Tom, and Margaret (Peggy) grew up on the east side of town, near the cemeteries. The children attended classes at St. Marys School, affiliated with their family parish, St. Marys Catholic Church. Tragically, Junior passed away from leukemia at the age of 13, and Peggy was left with permanent mental disability after a bout with a childhood illness. As a result, Ellen grew very close to her brother, Tom, and often helped her mother care for Peggy. Even from a young age, Ellen showed remarkable leadership ability, and was the first woman to be elected president of the senior class at her high school, St. Marys. After graduation, Ellen bravely moved across the country to San Francisco, where she found a job in the office of an insurance company. More glamorous jobs were dangled in front of her eyes she was offered a spot in a movie after a screen test but Ellen decided the big screen wasnt for her. Sadly, Ellens remaining brother Tom died in an airplane accident during those years, and Ellen decided to return to Muskegon. Back home in Muskegon, Ellen quickly found work in Dr. Thorntons office. One evening after clocking out, Ellen met a young man named Jack Ford at a party. The two hit it off right away, started dating, and fell in love. It wasnt long before Jack popped the question, albeit indirectly his proposal technique consisted of buying a house on Beach Street, and then telling Ellen it was their future home! The happy couple was married on November 30, 1957. Nurturing and warm-hearted, Ellen had always looked forward to becoming a mother. She and Jack were thrilled to become parents in 1963 with the birth of their first and only child, Jacquelin. Ellen was an active mom, supporting Jackie in all her endeavors, and often volunteered as a room mother at Jackies school. She was always welcoming of Jackies friends, and considered many of them to be like daughters. Ellen and her family belonged to St. Francis deSales Catholic Church, where she volunteered as a greeter and Sunday school teacher for many years. In the early 1970s, Ellen started working for her Aunt Louise, who ran a phone answering company. These were the days of operators and cord boards, when operators had to call director machines in order to transfer phone calls. Ellen soon bought the business, and changed the name to Pro-Phone Communications. Jack retired from Continental Motors, and joined Ellen in growing the business. As the years went by, Ellen and Jack successfully kept up with technological advancements, moving from switchboards to pagers and computers. Ellen was a woman of high principles, and strongly believed that if you live in, and take from, a community, then you must give back to that community. She practiced what she preached, and donated her time to an almost unbelievable number of causes over the years. Her volunteer work brought her to organizations including St. Francis deSales Catholic Church, the Mercy Hospital Guild, the Association of Retarded Citizens, the United Way, Meals on Wheels, and many, many other local groups. Ellen was also active in various professional organizations, including the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Telemessaging Association, the Michigan Association of Radiotelephone Systems, the Teleocator National Association, ATSI, and the American Business Womens Association (in many cases, Ellen was asked to serve as association president or chairperson). Ellen was recognized for her achievements by Quadrangle in 1983 (Businesswoman of the Year) and Zonta in 1985 (Woman of Achievement). In addition to their professional and community involvement, Ellen and Jack both loved to throw a good party. They were famous for their Christmas parties, when the house was filled with magnificent Christmas villages, and model trains chugged through every room. Every summer, Ellen and Jack hosted a big party for the Association of Retarded Citizens, where more than a hundred guests would come to their house for pontoon boat rides provided by their neighbors. In addition, Ellen often hosted foreign Blue Lakes Fine Arts visitors, as well as parties for the Muskegon Air Fair pilots and volunteers Ellens daughter Jackie eventually joined the family business, which allowed Ellen and Jack to travel more. They had a 32-foot cabin cruiser, and enjoyed making trips all over the Great Lakes. They also had a condo at Boyne Highlands, and at the age of 60 Ellen took up skiing! Farther afield, Ellen and Jack enjoyed exploring the continental United States in their motorhome. Even in her golden years, Ellen remained committed to serving the community, and volunteered as long as her health permitted. She could often be spotted driving around town, delivering Meals on Wheels or on her way to giving Eucharistic communion to folks in assisted living. Sadly, in recent years Ellen began to show signs of Alzheimers disease. Jack did everything in his power to care for his beloved companion at home, but in 2011 she had to move to Day Spring Assisted Living. Strong and independent, hardworking and kindhearted, Ellen was a devoted wife, a loving mother, a savvy businesswoman, and a tireless volunteer. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by her many friends and family members. Mrs. Ellen Ann Ford went home to her heavenly father on April 24, 2013. Ellens family includes her husband of 55 years, Jack H. Ford; her daughter, Jacquelin (David) Dressel; her beloved West Coast nieces and nephews; her cousins; her sisters-in-law, Joy and Betty; her great friends, Carla and Maxine; and her cats and dogs. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Junior and Tom; and her sister, Peggy. The family wishes to thank DaySpring Assisted Living & Harbor Hospice Poppen House for their loving care the during last few years. A memorial mass will be celebrated at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, with visitation one hour prior to the service at the Clock Chapel-Muskegon. Rev. Fr. Phil Salmonowicz will officiate. Interment will be at St. Mary's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Harbor Hospice. Please visit Ellens personal memory page at www.clockfuneralhome.com, where you can learn more about her life, share a favorite memory or photo, and sign the online guestbook.