Obituary: Patricia ‘Pat’ Ford, 76, formerly Lawrenceburg and Chaplin
Patricia “Pat” Ford, 76, of Garner, N.C., formerly Lawrenceburg and Chaplin, is finally at peace after a long, difficult battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).
She spent the first half of her life in Washington, Penn., where she graduated from Trinity High School. She raised two children, then received a degree from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. She then moved to Kentucky, got remarried and spent her time enjoying the beauty of horse country while raising her bonus children. She was an artist, mother, grandmother, and lover of nature, music, animals, and pretty things.
Some might remember her as the hat lady with her vast collection of hats always on her head in recent years or with her beloved dog Bella always by her side. PSP chipped away at her for almost a decade, but she was feisty and stubborn; she struggled and fought against it until the very end. Thank you to the village that walked this journey with her with kindness, love and understanding and to those like neighbor Amanda Chilton who embodied the true meaning of “love thy neighbor”. She was a tough cookie and whatever aggravation she caused, the aggravation she felt as her very being was torn away bit by bit was more than any of us would want to endure.
She leaves behind a lifetime of her artwork, may her memory live on in her art and leave the world a little more beautiful.
She was preceded in death by her parents and three siblings.
She is survived by one daughter, Tina (Ed) Craft; one son, four grandchildren, Corey (Emily) Garner, Tyler Garner, Jayde Sipe and Delaney Craft; one bonus great-grandchild, Luna; her former husband, Richard Ford who loved her well; and bonus children Chris (Rachel) Ford, Elena (David) Wahl, and Drew (Lisa) Ford, and bonus grandchildren Austin (Courtney) Hart, Shelby Ford, Tristan Ford, John Hyun, Roland Hyun, Hatton Ford, Byron Ford and bonus great-grandson Samuel Hart; many cousins, nieces and nephews;, and her lifelong best friend Sharon Rafter.
The graveside service was Monday, June 23, 2025 at Highview Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor may be made to: Chaplin Baptist Church, PO Box 93 Chaplin, KY 40012 or Relentless Church, 1540 Mechanical Blvd Garner, NC 27529.
The Houghlin Funeral Home of Bloomfield is in charge of arrangements.
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