Billie Ray Ford - Obituary

illie R. Ford, 85, of Deale, MD, passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 20, 2024. Born in Washington, DC on Oct. 18, 1939, to the late Sylvia Weakly and Louis V. Ford. He was raised in West Annapolis, MD. by his grandparents Amy (Phipps) and Karl Stephan. Billie spent his childhood summers with his great aunt and uncle, Janie and Capt. Warren Hazard, in Galesville, MD. and at the home of his great grandparents Emma and Louis Phipps, on Broadwater Creek in Churchton, MD. where he learned to fish, crab and hunt. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Annapolis, MD. and was a member of West Annapolis Fire Department. Billie was a welder, who would say he could weld anything, and he did weld everything from gas holding tanks, bridges, pipeline, and anything in between, as well as created beautiful ornamental ironwork. He worked for Willson Welding, was owner of Ford’s Welding Service, a pipeline welder with Local 798, and retired as a welding inspector. Billie married the former Mary E. Willson in 1960, with whom he had two children. Billie loved to hunt, which led him to Coudersport, PA. where he hunted every deer season for decades. It was in Coudersport that he met his second wife Janice M. (Crosby) Ford, to whom he was married for 40 years. Billie and Jan later moved to Genesee, PA., loving life, for 28 years, on their mountain farm enjoying fishing, hunting, riding motorcycles, time with good friends and family, and living life their way. Between the ages of 70-73, Billie along with Jan attained his dream of riding his Harley Davidson in all of the lower 48 states. Billie, Jan and their dog Buck, later moved back to Maryland to be closer to family. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, raised to a Master Mason on May 22, 1976, the Scottish Rite, the Shriners, the American Legion and a life member of the NRA and Harley Owners Group. Billie lived life to its fullest, on his own terms, with no regrets. He was patriotic and loved the American Flag, which was always on display at his home. He loved eating crabs, oysters, a good joke, wore cowboy boots all his adult life until he retired, bluegrass and country music, and anything requiring “cutting up and carrying on”. You can find “B.R. Ford” written, painted, carved, welded or branded (yes, he made a BR Ford brand) on almost everything he owned. Billie was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Janice, who passed away on July 4, 2024, his parents, grandparents, sister Kany Ford Riley, ex-wife Mary, oldest granddaughter and 1 great granddaughter. He is survived by his children Sherrie Ford (Dennis) Wilkinson, William “Bill” (Mary) Ford, both of Harwood, MD., stepchildren Rose (Melvin) Guthrie of Dillwyn, VA., Lori Prince of Muncy, PA., Ricky (Karliena) Snay of Shadyside, MD., William Lawton of Greenville, SC., 21 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, many, many friends whom he loved like family, and his beloved dog Buck. In lieu of flowers, the family requests, you donate to a veteran’s organization of your choice or to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospitals. Billie had made known his request to have no formal funeral services whenever he passed. There will be a celebration of his life on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at 2:00 PM, at the home of his daughter and son-in-law Dennis & Sherrie Wilkinson, 4514 L.R. Willson Rd., Harwood, MD. 20776. Please come and celebrate Billie with crabs, oysters and cold beer.