Mary Elizabeth "Betty" (Mason) Ford

Mary Elizabeth "Betty" (Mason) Ford, 82, of Clarksville, Indiana, formerly of Floyds Knobs, was carried away by angels on Saturday, July 11, 2020, in New Albany, Indiana. She was born on March 4, 1938, to the late Herman Kenneth Mason and Margaret (Messmer) Mason Ouzts. Betty was also preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, James "Jimmy" Ford.

Mary retired from United Parcel Service, but stayed active and devoted to her most important role of being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her greatest joy was the time she spent with her children and grandchildren. She was a mother and grandmother to not only her children, but countless others. Above all else, Mary provided love and compassion to those who needed it most.

Betty, as she was known by family and friends, loved attending her children's and grandchildren's baseball games, cheer competitions, cross country meets, basketball games, and baton twirling competitions and loved trolling her grandchildren on Facebook.

She enjoyed boating, attending NASCAR races, watching IU basketball, and riding in her Mustang convertible, where she was known to put the pedal to the metal, almost to the point where everyone was afraid to ride with her. Mary attended St. Mary's School in New Albany and was the first May Queen at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, where she was a part of the first graduating class. She was also chosen in 1956 as Sweetheart Queen of the Navy's Second Kentuckiana Company of Recruits.

She leaves behind a very dysfunctional family that she was proud to be the "Queen Bee" of, daughters, Debra Neeld (Rick) and Bonita Tomes (Ronnie); a cousin who was like a daughter to her, Kristi Heil Bezy; grandchildren, Scott Wiedeback (Jeanine), Hollye Nelson Odle, Dusty Tomes, Kelly Neeld, Kari Neeld Hawkins (Jonathon), Charlotte Amanda Davis, and Michael Salyer; great-grandchildren, Cadence Johnson, Carter Tomes, Carson Ragland, Zach Wiedeback, Hazel Hawkins, Kimana Goostree, Noah Tomes, Megan Odle, Preston Salyer, Mason Salyer, Kylie Wiedeback, Maddox Goostree, Addison Kinnett, and Dane Kinnett; stepbrother, Mike Ouzts; and her African Gray Parrot, Birdy Bird Ford.

Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, 2020, at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions (3309 Ballard Lane, New Albany) and on Monday after 10:00 a.m. Her funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday in the chapel at the funeral home with burial to follow at Edwardsville Cemetery.

Betty had a wonderful life of 82 years, and the family would like to thank all who made it so. Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association.

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