Eva Louise Ford Ashford, daughter of the late Perry Ford and Pearline Bowers Ford, was born January 20, 1946 in Thayer, Missouri and died January 3, 2020 in Batesville, Arkansas at the age of 73.
She was united to marriage to Ray Simms in Thayer, Missouri, August 1965. To this union two children were born, Kimberly Berry, Thayer, Missouri and Ronnie Simms and wife Michelle, Thayer, Missouri. On August 27, 1986 she married John Ashford in Edmond, Oklahoma. To this union two adopted grandsons were born, James Ashford, Springfield, Missouri and Donald Ashford, Thayer, Missouri.
She is survived by two children Kimberly Berry, Thayer, Missouri and Ronnie Simms and wife Michelle, Thayer, Missouri; two grandsons, James Ashford, Springfield, Missouri and Donald Ashford, Thayer, Missouri; two brothers, Ed Ford and wife Barbara Haney Ford, Greenfield, Missouri, and Billy Ford and wife Gerri Vest Ford, West Plains, Missouri; one sister, Patty Kwiatt, Chandler, Arizona; three grandchildren, Shane Berry, Thayer, Missouri, Kacey Simms, West Plains, Missouri, and Austyn Simms, Thayer, Missouri; two great grandchildren, Brooks Simms and Brayson Simms, Thayer, Missouri, and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Ray Simms and John Ashford; four brothers, Donald Ford, Frank Ford, Henry Ford, and Glen Ford; two sisters, Virginia Beck and Lucinda Buell.
She was a member of the Koshkonong Freewill Baptist Church in Koshkonong, Missouri. She graduated from Thayer High School with the class of 1964. On May 12, 1989 she graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma. She was a learning disability teacher at Fairview School in West Plains, Missouri for over fifteen years. She had written and published two children’s books. She loved working in her flower gardens. She will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Visitation was held on Monday, January 6, 2020 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Carter Funeral Home Chapel, Thayer, Missouri.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Local arrangements are under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc., Thayer, Missouri.