The brother of a Liberty Twp. resident, Dennis R. Ford, of Lowell, died Sept. 25, 2003 at his home after a long battle with cancer. He was 59.

He was born August 13, 1944 in Chicago, the son of Richard and Ann (Kokos) Ford, who preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife Carol, 2 daughters, Amber Pickett of Lowell and Susan Miller of Crown Point; a brother, Phillip (Linda) Ford of Liberty Twp.; a sister, Patricia (Jack) Newenhouse of Michigan City; 2 stepbrothers, Richard (Irene) Ford of Hammond and Donald (Grace) Ford of Calif.; special nieces, Ashley Ford of Liberty Twp., Nevada Pickett, Vanessa Sams of Lowell and special nephews Leo Pickett, Chris Pickett and Brandon Sams of Lowell; 2 grandchildren, Aaron and Sean Miller of Crown Point; special children in his life, Jennifer and Kyle Osburn of Lowell and Chris (Little Big Man) McCormick of South Bend and many cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.

He graduated from Thornton Fractional South High School, Lansing, Ill., class of 1963. He was a retiree of Bethlehem Steel Corp. with 32 years of service and an active member of USWA local #6787. He was a member of the Gold Wing Riders Assoc., Chapter A of Hobart. He also was a member of the Moose Lodge of Hobart. He was generous to many organizations such as The Boys & Girls Club of Cedar Lake, the Cedar Lake First United Methodist Church and the Cancer Society. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Cedar Lake and was blessed with many prayers from churches all over the Midwest praying for his recovery.

Funeral Services, Rev. Tom Shanahan officiating, are scheduled at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 29 at Eller-Brady Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 3-9 p.m. Sunday and from 10 a.m. until time of service at 11 a.m. Monday at Eller Brady Funeral Home, 8510 Lakeshore Dr., Cedar Lake.

Memorials may be made to one of his favorite charities.

Posted 9/26/2003