Help Honor Mike Ford's Final Wishes

On January 28th, 2025, my Uncle Mike Ford passed away from complications of cancer of his colon and his bladder, endocarditis, bacteremia, multiple heart attacks, and several strokes.

Uncle Mike had been in and out of nursing facilities and hospitals for the last several months of his life, and unfortunately had not prepaid his final expenses, leaving his family to figure out how to cover the simplest and least expensive funeral arrangements to carry out Uncle Mike's wishes to be cremated and his ashes to be buried at his mother's feet.

We are looking to cover the $175 for burying his ashes, $350 as a repurchase fee for East Avenue Cemetery to bury his ashes on his mother's plot, $250 for a cement foundation to place a simple plaque to mark Uncle Mike's grave, which is estimated to cost $1,800 starting price. If we have any additional resources after paying for these expenses, we will place his obituary in the Time Reporter.

Thank you so much for your consideration in helping to cover Uncle Mike's final expenses, we really appreciate it!

Love, the FORD family!

Michael R. Ford, of Uhrichsville, passed away on January 28, 2025. Mike was under the care of Devine Rehabilitation and Ohio Hospice following a period of declining health.

Born October 10, 1952, Mike was the son of the late Betty and Edward (Mike) Ford.

Mike attended Indian Valley North and loved his hometown of Midvale along with spending time at Midvale Speedway.

Mike was a member of the Moose, Sons and Daughters of Herman, along with the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Mike enjoyed driving trucks and found this to be the career that he loved. Mike loved sports and enjoyed following and watching the Indian Valley Braves football team win the State title in 2024 and looked forward to seeing them get a second chance at a State title in 2025.

Mike was known for his orneriness, joking, and endless laughs.

Mike is survived by his son, John (Tina) Ford, daughter Michelle (John) Ficther of New Philadelphia, and his ten grandchildren: Zachariah, Dylan (Tasia) Ford, Brandon, Bradley, and Brianna Miller, Camie (Brandon) Sickles, Alisha and Alexander Ford, Logan Ficther, Kalyn (Jordan) Kleyman, and seven great-grandchildren: Rylan, Audrey Ford, and Remington, Ireland Haney, Ashton Ficther, Easton, and Morgan Kleyman.

Also surviving are his brother Robert (Joyce) Ford, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Mike was preceded in death by his brother Danny Ford and former wife and mother of his children, Naomi Martin.

The family will be holding a celebration of life and luncheon on February 22, 2025, at 1pm at the Dover Moose Lodge Rec Room.

In lieu of flowers, the family has established a GoFundMe to help with Mike’s final expenses.