Our beloved Christopher Michael Ford took his last breath on the evening of May 28, 2024, surrounded by family in his home on Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
Aged 45, Michael had the heart of a gladiator in his fight against a relentless case of metastatic melanoma over the past 3 years, and especially these last 10 months. Despite the disease ultimately taking his life, it never took Michael’s warrior spirit. He fought valiantly to the end with strength, good humor, and stoicism.
Born on August 25,1978, in Omaha, Nebraska to Francis Joseph Ford and Mary Ruth Laguaite Ford, Michael grew up living in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Georgia learning to appreciate the value of family, hard work, love of country, and a good laugh. After graduating from Cartersville High School in 1996, these values grew to culminate with Michael marrying his bride Elizabeth in January 2010 and deciding to proudly serve his country by enlisting in the US Navy in February 2010. The next 14 years serving as a Petty Officer 2nd Class Hospital Corpsman were an adventure of achievements and duty stations – most proudly earning the Fleet Marine Force qualification and serving on Pearl Harbor Naval Base and Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
Michael will be remembered for a lot of things but paramount to them all was his desire to make people laugh. A constant cut-up, Michael never met an uncomfortable silence he couldn’t fill with some antics. Because of this, Michael was always considered a favorite among his family and friends. A beacon of light with a healthy appetite for life (and food), he always brought a contagious enthusiasm to everything – be it a great day on the beach with his wife and old dog Shyla, gaming with friends, or cheering on his beloved Auburn Tigers with his family. He was a caring and great husband, son, brother, friend, and sailor. Michael idolized his superheroes but he himself was a superhero to many who knew him. He will be missed.
Michael is survived by his loving wife of 14 years Elizabeth Ford, his parents Francis Joseph and Mary Ruth Laguaite Ford of Taylorsville, his sisters and their husbands Bonnie and Scott Adair of Columbus, Mississippi, Cheryl and Jamie Roberts of Cartersville, and Pam and David Lynch of Kingston, and nieces and nephews, Katie, Roger, Ryan, Alex, Adam, Maggie, Christian, and Logan. He was preceded in death by his brother Teddy Ford.
A viewing will be at the Owen Funeral Home in Cartersville, GA on June 7, 2024, between 5-8PM. The funeral service will be held on June 8th at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church at 1PM with interment immediately following at Sunset Memory Gardens with full military honors. After the graveside service, all are cordially invited to come to a Celebration of Life Reception at the Hilton Garden Inn. All services and the reception are in Cartersville, GA.
In lieu of flowers or other gifts of sympathy, it was Michael’s wish that donations be given to Patient Assistance Foundation of Cancer Specialists of North Florida to help others in their fight against cancer. Donations may be mailed to PAFCSNF, 7015 A C Skinner Parkway, Suite 1 Jacksonville, FL 32256 or at www.pafcsnf.org
Owen Funeral Home, 12 Collins Drive, Cartersville, GA 30120 (770)382-3030 is honored to serve the Ford family.
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