Billy Joe B.J. Ford

Billy Joe ?B. J.' Ford, 74, of Unicoi, died Friday, July 31, 2015 in Lakebridge Health Care Center. B. J. was a native of Washington County, TN. He was a son of the late Virgil and Fannie Oliver Ford. B. J. retired from the US Navy after 30 years of service. He was stationed aboard the USS Wainright (CG-28). Following his retirement in 1989, he worked as a Realtor in Orlando, FL for more than 10 years. He has resided in the Johnson City area since 2001. B. J. was a fifty year member of the M M Martin Lodge No. 547 F&AM. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a step-son, Jim Hatcher. Survivors include: his wife of 32 years, Donna Ford; two sons, Dennis and Mark Ford; one daughter, Sheri Ford; one step-son, John Ellis, and his wife Sandy; two granddaughters, Ashley Turner, and her husband Josh, and Nicole Letterman; two grandsons, Daniel Ford, and his friend Jessica, and Travis Ford; one sister, Jane Emmert; one nephew, Shane Emmert, and his wife Kim; several cousins; special friends, George Sosa, Darlyn Olson, Wally Lanphear, David Bruner, and Ray Edwards; and special buddy, Alan Pennington. He is also survived by his first wife, Reba Joyce Ford. The family of B. J. Ford will receive friends from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Wednesday, August 5, 2015 in the Morris-Baker Dogwood Chapel. The funeral service will follow at 12:30 pm Wednesday in the chapel under the direction of Rev. Lee Lyon and Rev. Gale Lyon. Family and friends will then proceed to Mountain Home National Cemetery for a 1:45 pm committal service. Pallbearers will be: Daniel Ford, Roger Mosley, Shane Emmert, Harold Stevens, Sam Stevens, and Travis Ford. The Boone Dam VFW Post 4933 will accord military honors. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to special daughter-in-law, Debbie Hatcher, and to the staff of Lakebridge Health Care Center and the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer?s Association, PO Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.