Russell Allen Ford, JR

Russell Allen Ford, Jr. walked the stairway to heaven on February 13, 2020. Allen was born on June 11, 1949 to the late Judge Russell Allen Ford, Sr. and the late Hazel Rose Ford eventually becoming big brother to Mike Ford and Greg Ford. Allen, along with his cousin Jimmy Anderson, joined the Marine Corps in 1968, much to the chagrin of his daddy. He lovingly and honorably served his country as a squad leader in the jungles of Viet Nam. He ended his military career as a Corporal and moved on to start his family in Roswell, GA, eventually settling in Smyrna, GA. Allen was a creative genius. He put his creativity to work in the construction business, building amazing works of art out of stone and rock. He eventually learned the art of scrimshaw. He turned this knowledge into creating beautiful knife handles and amazing works of wildlife art on Ostrich and Emu eggs. Many know that Allen had a passion for building cars and bikes. He built a yellow panhead bobber from scratch. His most beautiful creations came with the births of his children, Tiffany in 1978 and Forrest in 1982. Perhaps his most crowning glory came when his granddaughter Kenzie was born in 2010. Allen was an avid hunter. This hobby started when he was a teenager and went to Black Beard Island to learn the art of bow hunting. Everyone who knows Allen knows he never missed a chance to be outside. He fished the Chattahoochee River and the Blackfoot and Clark Fork Rivers in western Montana. He bill fished in Costa Rica. He hunted “the big ones” in Arkansas, Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Montana, South Carolina and probably other states he never mentioned. In 2008, Allen reunited with his childhood Sunday School crush, Carolyn Roper. They eventually married in 2011. This led to the additional benefit of three bonus daughters, Whitney (Paul) Hinely, Staci Alexander and Jennifer Alexander along with bonus grandchildren, Alex and Emily McKeown, Amanda (Hank) Page and Chris Hinely and his fiancé Haley Burns; and bonus great grandchildren Hansleigh, Addisyn, Annistyn, and Hailyn Page and Carter Hinely. Carolyn and Allen quickly became world travelers visiting Belize, Canada, Montana, Alaska, Washington State, Montana, Texas, Wyoming, Arkansas, Kansas, Montana, Alabama and Montana. Prior to his death Allen was often caught excitedly uttering “I am moving to Montana.” Thankfully, his daughter Tiffany will grant him that wish during a back-packing trip this summer. The thing that meant the most to Allen was his family. Allen is survived by his amazing wife, Carolyn Ford; brothers Mike (Theresa) Ford and Greg (Kim) Ford; daughter Tiffany (Blake Malley) Ford; son Forrest Ford and his partner Heather Bishop; bonus daughters Whitney (Paul) Hinely, Staci Alexander and Jennifer Alexander; granddaughter Kenzie Ford; bonus grandchildren Alex and Emily McKeown, Shyann, Leland, and Zachary Bishop, Amanda (Hank) Page, Chris Hinely and fiancé Haley Burns; bonus great grandchildren Hansleigh, Addisyn, Annistyn, and Hailyn Page and Carter Hinely; many aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces; the waitstaff at La Parilla and countless loyal friends who loved him.

Russell Allen Ford, JR

June 11, 1949 - February 13, 2020