Margaret Crocker Ford

2022, due to cancer complications.

Margaret Lucille Crocker Ford was born in the West University neighborhood of Houston, Texas

on August 24, 1940. She was the third child and eldest daughter of Charles Graham Crocker and

Lucille Kate Hensarling Crocker. Margaret grew up as part of a close-knit family of siblings,

cousins, parents and grandparents in Southeast Texas.

She graduated from Lamar High School in 1958, where she was involved in many service and

social clubs. Margaret graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 1978 with honors and a BA

in German Language and Literature. She pursued a lifelong passion for languages that included

German, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, French, and Spanish. She also taught herself Italian while

working at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

Margaret had a 31-year library career starting at the Fondren Library at Rice University as a

cataloger and then advancing to Head of Acquisitions. After earning her Master’s in Library and

Information Science from the University of Texas at Austin, she progressed to Associate Librarian

at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. She was well known in the library community in the

Houston area, developing cataloging programs for cataloging Music and Art Materials in

Academic Libraries. Margaret was later recognized for her librarianship in the biographical text,

1983 Who’s Who in the Southeast . She also presented papers in library publications and at

conventions throughout the library community, which included a presentation at the 1990

ARLIS/Texas conference, titled “The Cutting Edge: Reference Tools in the Art Library” and an

essay in the book Art Museum Libraries and Librarianship , titled “Capturing Ephemera”.

Margaret married and had three children. Later, during her second marriage to Coast

Guardsman Raymond K. Ford, Jr., she traveled with her husband and children to various

assignments on the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts until his retirement in 1979. Margaret enjoyed the

love of her family and friends throughout her life. She loved being called “Grandma” by her five

grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Margaret had a strong, deep faith and was a lifelong member in the Presbyterian Church from

Bellaire Presbyterian Church, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (established in part by her

parents, Charles and Lucille Crocker) and Spring Branch Presbyterian Church. She involved

herself in activities that would give to others. Margaret was an Elder of the Church, a Stephen’s

Minister, and involved with the Care Group at Spring Branch Presbyterian Church. She was well

known in the church for her generosity and friendship to other people.

Margaret was an avid family genealogist, active crocheter, jigsaw puzzle enthusiast, and

adventurous traveler. Her favorite locations included Germany, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Mexico and

the Caribbean.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Lucille Crocker; her brothers,

Charles William and James Crocker; and her husband, Raymond K. Ford, Jr. She is survived by

her sister, Mary Crocker; daughters and son, Katherine Watson, Karl Ford, and Lisa Ford;

grandchildren, Kevin Watson, Ricky Ford, Kristopher Ford, Rachel Ford-Fink, and Travis

Ford-Fink; great granddaughters, Lillian Watson and Azaleah Ford; and many cousins, nieces and

nephews.

The most important lesson she learned in life was to just keep going, no matter what happened.

She was known for her resilience, independence, motivation, and compassion. Margaret was a

special woman and will truly be missed by all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, contributions should be sent to Spring Branch Presbyterian Church or the

Hirsch Library of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

The Memorial Service celebrating Margaret’s life will be in the Sanctuary at Spring Branch

Presbyterian Church, 1215 Campbell Road, Houston, TX 77055 at 2:00pm on Saturday, January

15, 2022. Please respect the family’s wishes and wear a mask inside the church. If you are not

comfortable wearing a mask or cannot attend in person, the service will also be streamed on

the church’s YouTube channel.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.waltripfuneraldirectors.com

for the Ford family.