Obituaries

Carolyn Alida Ford

Photo of Carolyn Alida Ford
Carolyn Alida Ford, 67, of Fayetteville died Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012, at her home. She was born June 21, 1945, in Fort Worth, Texas, the daughter of Benjamin Dale and Mildred Alida Ethridge Ford. Most recently she was a voice professor at NorthWest Arkansas Community College, mentoring students who shared her passion for singing. She also taught beginning flute and piano students privately. She had studied voice with Elaine Cencel at the University of Arkansas and performed at venues across the state. She earned an Ed.D. in counselor education from the U of A, where as a faculty member she shepherded graduate students as beginning counselors. She was on the faculty at Rose College in Albany, N.Y., for a short time and worked for many years at Ozark Guidance Center. She was a talented and prolific quilter, creating art quilts for family and friends. She was a member and past president of the Northwest Arkansas Quilt Guild and a founding member of the John Harrison Opera Foundation. She was on the selection committee of the Tippy McMichael Lecture Series at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, where she was a member. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by two daughters, Lisa Gibbons Spurlin and husband, Doug, of Tucson, Aaron Gibbons Dutton and husband, Greg, of Independence, Mo.; one sister, Mary Jane Hodges and husband, Drew, of North Little Rock; four grandchildren, Sarah, Caroline and Benjamin Spurlin, and Murphy Dutton; several cousins; and longtime family friend, Ruby Hoofman of Carthage, Mo. A sung Solemn Eucharist will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The Revs. Lowell E. Grisham and Suzanne Stoner will officiate. Pre-service music begins at 3:30 under the direction of Charlie Rigsby, organist/choirmaster. Interment will be in St. Paul's columbarium. A reception prepared by St. Spatula's Guild will follow in the parish hall. Cremation arrangements were by Moore's Chapel. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be given to the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org, the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, www.ovariancancer.org, or St. Paul's Friends of Music, 224 N. East. Ave., Fayetteville, AR, 72701. To sign the online guest book, visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.

Published November 18, 2012

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