Kathryn “Kay” J. Ford, 81, of Sparta died Wednesday, June 21, 2006 in her home. She was born on July 7, 1924 in South Bend, Indiana to Eugene and Gladys (Kurtz) Stott.  She began elementary school in Elkhart, Indiana.  When she was about ten years of age the family moved to Maywood, IL.  She graduated from Proviso Township High School in 1942.  In high school she acquired very good secretarial skills which were beneficial to her work career.  

     Her first job after graduation from high school was with the U.S. Engineers in Chicago.  It was a civil service job.  She later transferred to the Vaughen General Army Hospital in Maywood where she became a medical secretary on a surgical ward.  It was there that she met Jim Ford when he came in for surgery.  This resulted in their marriage on July 6, 1946.  A week after the marriage they moved to Houston, TX where they worked and attended the University of Houston. 

     Late in 1949 they moved back to the Chicago area.  In 1958 they moved into a new home in Winfield, IL where they raised their two children, Michael and Barbara.  Kay enjoyed children and the home was always open house to the friends of Michael and Barbara.  Kay enjoyed treating the children to homemade pizza and other goodies.

     For many years she worked as a part-time secretary to the Reverend MSGR Vincent J. Cloos at the St. John The Baptist Catholic Church in Winfield.  This allowed her to be home when the children left and returned from school.  After the MSGR retired she took a full-time job with the Winfield Police Department as a secretary to Chief Sostak.  She retired from this job in April of 1989.  She served as secretary for the Winfield Fire Protection District Board and the Winfield Police Commission Board.  She also served on the St. John’s Church Credit Union Board.  She was also active with the Fire Department Auxiliary.  Kay enjoyed sports and participated in both golf and bowling leagues for many years.

     She is survived by her husband, Jim of Sparta; and their two children, Michael (Denise) Ford and their sons, William and Travis of Sparta, Barbara (Neil) Boucher, and their two daughters, Chelsea and Courtney of Carol Stream, IL; her brother the Reverend Robert (Patricia) Hall of Indianapolis, IN; brother-in-law, Richard (Sarah) Ford of Mountain Home, AK; niece, Pamela (Douglas) Mannel of Sparta; many other nieces and nephews located in other parts of the country.

     She was preceded in death by her parents; step-father, Robert Hall; her brother, Harold (Virginia) Stott; her sister, Normalee (Arlis) Peters; her brother-in-law, Forest I. Johnson; niece, Sharon (Johnson) Sanders and niece, Bette J. Stott McCullough; and great nephew, Mark Sanders.    

     Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with Father James Leary O.F.M. Cap. officiating. Burial will be in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Sparta.

     Friends may call at the Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta on Sunday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and at the funeral home on Monday from 8 a.m. until 10:45 a.m.

     In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Building Fund or Gundersen Lutheran Hospice.