Billie “Irene” Ford

Billie “Irene” Ford, 91, of Fritch, Texas went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, July 22, 2022. She died at her home at the lake surrounded by her family.

A memorial service in her honor will be held at 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in the Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd. in Amarillo. Burial will be at Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.

Irene was born in Hansford County, Texas on October 22, 1930, the first of 13 children to Oakes and Opal Irene Scroggs. She attended school in Spearman, Texas and was always proud to be called a Lynxette. In April of 1947 she met a handsome young Marine, Lloyd Ford, at the Spearman drugstore while picking up photos with her sister, Joyce. It was love at first sight and Irene and Lloyd were married on July 31,1947. They celebrated 72 years together before Lloyd’s death in November of 2019. The couple had the first of 5 children, in August 1948 while living in Muleshoe, Texas. In June of 1950 while living in Dumas, Texas their second child was born. The couple then moved to Amarillo where they welcomed three more children. They raised all five children in a small house on Lake Street in north Amarillo and continued to live there until June of 1982 when they moved close to Lake Meredith just outside of Fritch, Texas. This was a dream-come-true for Irene who always loved the outdoors and wanted to live in the country.

Irene was a strong Texas-woman who faced adversity with a “can-do” attitude. In 1959 when Lloyd was hospitalized, Irene enrolled in a business school and shortly after went to work for Northwest Texas Hospital as an admissions clerk to provide for the family in his absence. She proved to be a hard-working, fast learner and quickly advanced in the business office. She continued to work after Lloyd recovered and when Northwest purchased one of the first main-frame computers to be brought to Amarillo, Irene was trained to be the computer operator. Each time the technology advanced and a new system was purchased, Irene was excited and eager to learn. She retired from Northwest Texas Hospital as the Senior Computer Operator after 30 years of loyal service.

After retirement she and Lloyd bought an RV and traveled frequently with her sister and best friend, Joyce Leach and her husband, Al. The two couples traveled many miles together and one of Irene’s favorite activities was attending Cowboy Camp Meetings. She loved to hear the Word of the Lord and sing praises to God in the outdoors.

Irene was brought up in the Apostolic Faith Church, attending the church in Spearman in her youth and the church in Amarillo until it closed. After the church in Amarillo closed she began to attend the Broadway Baptist Church in Fritch.

Irene loved God, her husband and her family (in that order) and her life was spent serving and taking care of those she loved. She will be dearly missed.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd; her two sons, Lynn and Kent Ford; a grandson, Wesley Vance Ford; two sisters, Doris Pipkin and June Edwards; and two brothers, Ted Scroggs and Dallen Scroggs.

She is survived by her children, Cindy Schindler and husband, Bob of Everett, Washington, Jimmy Ford and wife, Ricci of Amarillo, and Angela Downs and husband, Jerry of Amarillo; her siblings, Joyce Leach of Dumas, Texas, Tilden Scroggs of Spearman, Texas, James Scroggs of Spearman, Texas, Mary Harper of Perryton, Texas, Peggy Mitchell of Mansfield, Texas, Zada Cooper of Decatur, Texas, Coleen Neal of Lebanon, Missouri, and Sharon Johnson of Spearman, Texas; 18 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and many, many nieces, nephews and friends who consider themselves to be blessed to have had her in their lives.

The family will receive friends from 6:30 P.M. – 7:30 P.M., Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home.