Karen Gail Ford

It is with great sadness we announce the sudden and untimely death of Karen Gail Ford. Karen had struggled through multiple, chronic illnesses and the challenges they brought when she left this earth. Karen died in her residence in High Point, North Carolina on November 4, 2021, where she lived with her beloved service dog, Osita.

Karen was a boisterous, independent woman with strong connections to family and friends. She had a big heart, a warm and welcoming personality, and a smile that would light up a room. Before Karen’s disability prevented her from working, she had a history of jobs in the service industry. Karen was raised in Maryland, spending most of her formative years in Bowie. She moved to North Carolina in 2007 where she resided until the time of her death.

Karen is survived by her daughter, Arianna Iva-Renée Ford, currently living in Chicago, Illinois while she attends graduate school at DePaul University. Arianna was Karen’s most valued accomplishment. Karen is also survived by her mother and step-father (Mary Ford and Robert Rivard), her father and step-mother (Addison ‘Baker’ Ford and Darlene Ford), her sister (Rebecca Ford), her brother (Kevin Ford), her nephew (Skylor Miller), her niece.( Ella Miller), seven step-siblings (David Thomas, Stephen Thomas, Sarah Thomas, Suzanne Van der Vossen, Chris Rivard, Robert Rivard Jr., and Kathryn McLaughlin), two surviving aunts (Susan Tayman and Connie Halkovich), five first cousins, and so many, loyal friends.

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. – Maya Angelou

Karen loved to make people laugh and often made jokes in the face of adversity. We might not remember why we were laughing, but we will always remember her fighting spirit and infectious sense of humor.

Let my soul smile through my heart and my heart smile through my eyes, that I may scatter rich smiles in sad hearts. - Paramahansa Yogananda