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Jerrol Hartman Ford, 82

Jerrol Hartman Ford, 82, passed away peacefully with his loving wife and best friend by his side on Sept. 30, 2018, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He was born May 25, 1936, in Kanab, Utah, to Zadok James and Hannah (Greenhalgh) Ford, in Grandma Judd’s home. When he was five years old they moved to Layton, Utah. He graduated from Davis High School in Kaysville, Utah, in 1954.

Jerry was always a hard worker and went to work for the railroad at age 18. Two years later he went into the Navy (Seabees) and served as a steelworker for four years.

In 1963 he met the love of his life, Colleen Roberts, and married her on May 31, 1963. He immediately became a father to Kenneth and Michael. Five years later, he was blessed with twin boys, Stuart Jay and Steven Ray. Fifteen months later a beautiful daughter named Jodi Lynne was born. Jerry and Colleen were later sealed in the Ogden Temple on April 11, 1979.

Jerry went active duty in the Navy in January of 1970, serving in Diego Garcia in Gulfport, Miss., and Adak, Alaska. He returned to reserve status in 1973, where he remained in service for 28 more years. He retired with his commission as a Chief Petty Officer. He worked for many years as a civil service employee at Hill Air Force Base in Clearfield, Utah, and at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyo., servicing airplanes and missiles. After retiring in 1990 he worked for Yellow Freight, then Wyoming Hereford Ranch until 2005.

He and Colleen then moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. While living in Idaho, he has served as a temple worker for four and a half years and as an addiction recovery missionary for the LDS Church, for two and a half years. Serving others and being loyal to them has always been important to Jerry. It is a quality that he instilled in each of his children. He was a very loving husband, father and grandfather. He was so innovative, he could make anything out of nothing. He was a “Dutch oven chef.”

Jerry loved to tinker in his garage, where he built three teardrop trailers and many other creations. His favorite times were his lunch and dinner dates with Colleen. They shared many laughs because Jerry had quite a sense of humor; they truly were each other’s best friend.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 55 years, Colleen; his two brothers, Ronald John (Nancy) Ford and E. Blair (Dorsey) Ford; four sons; one daughter; 22 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 4, 2018, at the Coeur d’Alene LDS Stake Center on Fourth Street. Bell Tower Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Please visit Jerry’s online memorial at www.belltowerfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Schneidmiller Hospice House.