Betty B. Ford passed away on March 9, 2012, at River Region Medical Center after a brief illness. She was 85.

Mrs. Ford was born in Lingle, Wyo., and grew up in Palo Alto, Calif. She met her husband of 50 years, William Bryan “Bill” Ford Jr., while working at the U.S. Marine Corps Transportation Center in San Francisco. A resident of Vicksburg since 1947, she had worked at the Magnolia Motor Hotel and the Hart’s Bread Store and was a partner in the family cattle business, a housewife and mother.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Max and Eva Barrot of Palo Alto; husband, William Bryan Ford, Jr.; sisters, Hazel Birch of Bridgeport, Neb., Reatha Abston of Los Angeles, Madeleine Brown of Eden, Idaho and Margie Braman of Carlsbad, N.M.

She is survived by her children, Max B. Ford (Tana), Karen Myers (Tommy), Bryan Ford and Sandra Ford, all of Vicksburg; grandchildren, Katherine Ford of Terry, Seth Myers (Sarah) of Severn, Md., Chris Chatham (Angel) of Vicksburg, Kathryn Stroud (Matt) of Lewisville, Texas; sister, Wynter Morgan Starchild (Jaeson) of Nappa, Calif.; cousin, Jeanne Pethybridge of Kamloops, British Columbia; five great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express its grateful appreciation to Drs. Anita Tribble, Mac Jarmon, Feras Homadeh, Michael Davis, Dwight Flowers in emergency room and Paul Pierce IV and physician assistants, D.J. Silvio, and Jeff Azlin. The gentle understanding and care by the nurses in the ICU will always be remembered and cherished. Among them are: Sheril Tolliver, Melissa Breithaupt, Tammy Field, Tameika Phillips, Amy Rutledge, Liz Chisolm and Verma Jones. Their consideration for our mother and family cannot be overstated.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the animal rescue agency of your choice.