Obit of Hester (Yokley) Ford

LODA – On Christmas (Friday, Dec. 25, 2015), Hester joined her husband, Delmer, in heaven. They had been married for 69 years when Delmer went to heaven on May 11, 2007.
Hester Ford was born Nov. 18, 1919, in Springfield, Ill., the daughter of Sidney and Harriet Yokley. Surviving are two sons, Donald (Kathy) Ford of Tallahassee, Fla., and Carl (Kathy) Ford of Sun City, Ariz.; one daughter, Fran (Jerry) Martin of Lake Iroquois, Loda; six grandchildren, Debbie (Rick) Skelly of Cumming, Ga., Scott Ford of Columbia, Tenn., Michael Ford of Goodyear, Ariz., Lynnette (Dan) Bixby of Bloomington, Ill., David (Leslie) Ford of Peoria, Ariz., and Brian (Tammy) Martin of West Lafayette, Ind.; 15 greatgrandchildren, Ryan and Nicholas Skelly, Hunter Ford, Jacob and Alyssa Ford, Tyler, Trevor, Tristan and Treyson Bixby and Jessica, Taylor, Abby, Kylie, Colin and Kennedy Martin; and two sisters-in-law, Gertie Yokley of Williamsville, Ill., and Marie Poland of Tompkinsville, Ky. Her parents; her husband; two brothers, Ben and Earl Yokley; one sister, Alma Emberton; two infant brothers; and one infant sister preceded her in death.
Hester was a member of the Gibson City Bible Church, 309 N. Route 47, Gibson City, IL 60936. She enjoyed sewing and quilting with church members and made many lap quilts for friends in nursing homes. Hester worked at the Fairbury Hospital and the electronics plant in Piper City. She worked beside her husband for years farming and gardening in Chatsworth and continued gardening after their retirement move to Lake Iroquois. Hester was a longtime member of the Home Extension Club with her many lifelong friends in Chatsworth. After moving to Lake Iroquois, she was a member of Lake Iroquois Women's Club and the Welcome Wagon with Marie Postlewaite, her close friend from Chatsworth. Hester was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and left many precious memories. She loved her neighbors and church friends. She made many slippers and quilts for all her children and great-grandchildren and was known for her great cooking, especially her fried chicken and pies. She had a green thumb and enjoyed her plants and gardening. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, at the Gibson City Bible Church. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, with Pastor Paul Thomason officiating. Burial will be in the Chatsworth Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Gibson City Bible Church. Arrangements are by Knapp-Miller Funeral Home in Paxton. Please share a memory of Hester at knappfuneralhomes.com.