Mark A. Ford

In Loving memory of Mark Ford Sr. August 17th, 1946 to September 3rd, 2020 Mark Allen Ford,74 of St. Cloud FL. Passed away September 3rd, 2020 at home peacefully. He was born August 17th, 1946 in Dallas, Texas to Julian and Peggy Ford Left to cherish his memory are his family; His lifelong companion Lori Lynn Engel of 37 years, Sandy Brooks - Gaboriau wife ( Feb 11th 1963 - Sept 16th 1976 and mother of his children Terrie Steiner (John), Mark Ford Jr. (Vannessa). His four grandchildren, Lisa Steiner, Taron Ford, Mia Kermoade, and Savanna Kermoade. He also has three great grandchildren, Serenity Steiner, Sally Trafny and Lily Trafny. He also has a great grandson on the way to be born on October 13, 2020. Marshall Richard Trafny and Half-sister Charlotte Bristow. He was preceded in Death by His Loving grandparents Okla Faye Browne (Baba) and Earnest Browne (Daddy Browne), His Parents Julian and Peggy Ford, mother in law - Lee Ramsey (Mom) and by Derna Mio wife ( Aug 13th 1977 - 1983) Mark attended Richardson High School in Texas. He attended Bryant Military school for a few years but did not enjoy the lack of freedom. He loved being his own boss. In 1963, Mark was one of the first people to ride on the LBJ Loop freeway in Dallas before it was paved. He rode his 650 Triumph motorcycle and was so proud of himself. He loved racing cars and a lot of weekends when he was not waterskiing, he would race at Green Valley drag strip with his 1964 Ford Mustang. He often took off on road trips with his bike, he loved riding fast. A funny story, when he was 17 he took off in his 1960 Biscayne that his grandparents bought him with only 50 cents in his pocket and a credit card that they gave him. Him and some friends went all over the mid-west and he did not tell them he was going. His grandmother had him arrested for stealing the car and vagrancy because she cut off the card from his use. That was the only way she could get him to come home. He would take his motorcycle in the house at night to keep it clean. Marks first job was at a local gas station in White Rock, Texas at the age of 15. On November 22nd, 1963 he was delivering Dr Pepper to the Texas Book Depository only an hour before the President Kennedy was shot. He worked for the Dr. Pepper plant in Dallas in the daytime and managed the Pizza Hut on Northwest Highway at night. He later worked as a tool and die maker for Gardner Denver until his back disc was diagnosed and told he could not perform that type of work anymore. In 1975 He worked as manager at KG Mens store in Aurora Mall for about six months. His next life opportunity he studied and received his real estate license. From then his life work was in the Realestate Title industry. In Denver he worked for Lawyers Title of Richmond which was his inspiration to Move to Miami Florida to Start his own Title Company. He worked For Lawyers Title in Miami and purchased his own branch in Ft. Lauderdale (Diversified Concepts Title) Where he met Lori in 1982 and fell in love in 1983. His business adventures included Secured Land Title in Lauderdale by the Sea and United General Title in Ft. Lauderdale. United General Title closed in 1994. He then opened his own restoration company in 1997 and he also sold RV parts and traveled around Florida for a couple years. Mark and Lori traveled for 3 or 4 years in a fifth wheel camper they purchased from Florida to Ohio making lots of unforgettable memories, Nascar races, went to Ohio for a month for a family reunion of Lori’s family, celebrated New Years Eve in New Orleans, went to Pennsylvania to visit the Amish country. In 1998 they moved to St Cloud, Florida which they called home ever since. Mark Loved old music, old cars, Mexican food, El Fenix hot sauce, Bimini bread, plain cake donuts, coca cola, tiki bars, Islamorada in the keys, chicken wings and beer, The Rustic inn, Catfish Dewey’s, rum runners, Olde town, steak and shake, Elvis, Nascar, car shows, mowing the lawn, mulching leaves under the trees, doing honey do’s, and messing around in the barn on the computer, friends and family visiting their beautiful 5 acres. We would like to give special thanks to a family friend Craig for caring for Mark in the last few months after coming home from the hospital in July also Toni and Travis for all that they have done in helping around the property. Working and beautifying the property along with odds and ends jobs, a small plant nursery, building canopies, garages and sheds was his idea of retirement. He was proud to know and be mentored by such people as Carroll Shelby which was a neighbor and built his 1964 Ford fastback Mustang. Fats Domino which he spent days at the horse race track and spent many nights at his home. Mark was a two-time cancer survivor. Your life was a blessing, Your memory a treasure… You are loved beyond words and you will be missed beyond measures…

Mark A. Ford

August 7, 1946 - September 3, 2020