Obituary for Mary Ford of Heavener

Mary Evelyn (Johnston) Ford of Heavener was born Dec. 4, 1937 in Heavener to Homer and Evelyn (Mason) Johnston and went home to be with her Lord and Savior July 28, 2025 in Heavener at the age of 87.

Mary’s funeral service is 2 p.m. Friday at the Heavener First Baptist Church with Pastor Brock Hardin and Brother Jimmy Binns officiating. The burial of the body she leaves behind will follow at Heavener Memorial Park, under the direction of Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home of Heavener.

She was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church in Heavener, where she served as Minister of Music under pastors John Murphy, Gerald Cox and John Riggs. During her time there, she was blessed with many opportunities to share her love of Jesus.

Mary (Mom, Grandmom, Ms Mary) was a God follower. She devoted her life to the Great Commission of Going and Telling.

Her going included taking large groups of young people, the Believers, to churches, parks, and festivals all across the country. She also loved going shopping. Even at Dillard’s makeup counter Mary would share Jesus with the people working and shopping. As God moved His ministry through her to Haven Heights in Fort Smith, she continued “going.” This time it was with a group of amazing women, JoySong, who traveled, sang, and shared the love of Jesus throughout the U.S.

Mary was a gregarious “goer.” Even as an elementary school student, she was preparing herself musically for a future that she could not imagine. One of her favorite stories to recount was the option her mother gave her to either iron clothes or practice piano. We were blessed that she chose piano. While in high school at Heavener, she was outgoing enough to be jokingly nicknamed “Big Deal.” Even in those early days, Mary played the piano for revivals and church camps at Kiamichi and Falls Creek. She went wherever God opened a door.

Her family was “in” on the going, too. Her husband of 30+ years, Wendell, and her two sons Britt and Lance were always going right along with her. The family would make annual pilgrimages to church music week in Ridgecrest, North Carolina and Glorieta, New Mexico. Those experiences, in addition to trips with the Believers with singing, Backyard Bible Clubs, and local service projects showed her sons the importance of going and telling.

Mary’s going and telling led her to a different mission field later in life. This time God had work for her in Wilburton at Eastern Oklahoma State College. She taught music courses and took speech classes to another level. Her expectations were always high for her students as well as herself. She worked her career in such a way as to bring glory to God and to point her students and fellow faculty members to Jesus. Many of her Eastern students have testified of the way she showed His love to them just when they needed it most. Mary also played for musicals while she was there and worked with her good friend, Paul Enis. Mary was always careful to review the lyrics to make sure nothing was disparaging to her Lord.

She was never seen in public without her friends. They might be the dulcimer group, the “red hats,” the bridge crew, or the “hand and foot” company. She was blessed to have amazing friends who helped her become more like Christ. Whether they were playing dominoes, singing hymns, or just enjoying each other’s company around the dinner table, Mary’s love for her sisters was always evident. Even after Mary couldn’t “go” on her own, her friends stepped in to take her to doctors’ appointments, always closely followed with lunch at Calico County.

While Mary might be most remembered musically for her piano skills, she also loved to sing. Mary and several of her friends participated in Cavanal Chorale and the Singing Churchwomen of Oklahoma. While with the latter, going threaded its way into the experience. Mary had the opportunity to sing in multiple churches across the state culminating in a mission trip to Brazil. While there, she sang, but she also shared. One of her favorite pictures was of a moment when she and a lady from Brazil sat on the side of the road as Mary led her newfound friend to faith in Jesus.

In the final phase of her life, Mary found one more place to go: she decided to move to Brookfield Assisted Living in Fort Smith. While there, her external going was limited, but inside the facility she would go, tell, share, and pray with other residents as well as the employees. She made a habit of daily sitting down at the keyboard and playing songs like “There’s Just Something About That Name” and “Jesus Loves Me.” Mary’s life exuded her love for Jesus until He called her home Monday morning.

Mary’s family is not just biological. Her church family, brothers and sisters in Christ, provided many of her dearest memories. She would talk about the revivals and singings, the meals, and fellowship and prayers of the saints. Mary’s life impacted thousands as an ambassador for Christ. She is now celebrating with Him for all eternity.

She is survived by two sons Lance Ford and wife Carol Ann of Heavener, and Britt Ford and wife Ginny of Leesburg, Virginia; nine grandchildren Julianne Varghese and husband Tony of Oklahoma City, Logan Ford of Richmond, Virginia, Nicholas Ford and wife Allison of Heavener, Gavin Ford of Littleton, Colorado, Gabriella Grivas of Leesburg, Virginia, Ashleigh Hazel, Amanda Griffith, Allison Gartrell and Aimee Tigges; numerous other loved ones and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Evelyn Johnston.

Friends who would like to view Mary’s earthly home are welcome to come by Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home between 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. until noon Friday. Our family looks forward to visiting with friends on Thursday from 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the caregivers at Brookfield Assisted Living, Heavener Nursing Home, and Elara Hospice.

To sign Mary’s online guestbook please visit www.dowdenrobertsfuneralhome.com.

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