Mary Louise McMillan Ford

Mary Louise McMillan Ford, age 100, of Sebring, died in the care of Copeland Oaks Assisted Living, surrounded by family on September 11, 2025.

The daughter of Guy Leslie and Lou Nalley McMillan, Mary Louise was born on December 23, 1924 at her childhood home, near Milton, Iowa. She fondly remembered being raised as an only child on a small farm in southeast Iowa during the depression. She married Charles Hubbard "Hub" Ford, a veteran of World War II, at the Methodist Church in Milton, Iowa on July 3, 1945. Together they devoted themselves to raising two children, Barbara Lou (Ray) Morrison and Paul (Suzanne Engle). After 73 years of marriage, Hub preceded her in death on July 6, 2018.

A graduate of Milton High School and Parsons College, she taught school in Keosauqua, Ollie, Iowa City, and Fairfield, all in Iowa, as well as Oberlin and Parma, Ohio. After retirement in 1983 from 30 years of teaching, she reflected that the 20 years spent with kindergarteners were her greatest joy.

After Hubbard retired in 1986, they moved to Copeland Oaks Retirement Community in Sebring, Ohio in 1992. Mary Louise remained deeply committed to P.E.O. International and celebrated 75 years of membership. In addition, wherever she lived, she was an active church member including Ridgewood United Methodist Church in Parma and most recently Christ United Methodist Church, Alliance, Ohio.

Throughout her adulthood, she enjoyed time with her family, genealogy research, reading, traveling, antiques, and day to day living. She will be remembered for her friendship expressed in many ways, notably through gifts from her kitchen, especially cookies and other treats. Sharing jigsaw puzzles was an avid hobby in recent years.

In addition to her children and their spouses, Mary Louise treasured time spent with their families. She is survived by her grandchildren, Daniel Morrison (Kelly Murphy), Maryann Morrison (Brock) Cunningham, SB Ford (Lucas Thacker), Michael Ford, and Alison Ford (Drew Waldbauer); and great-grandchildren, Brianna, Andrew, and Cameron Morrison, Makayla, Grant, and Abigail Cunningham; and Natalia Sifuentes. 

Mary Louise was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and great-granddaughter, Makenna Cunningham.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2025 in the Bennet Chapel, Copeland Oaks, 800 South 15th Street, Sebring, Ohio 44672. 

Visitation will be held prior to the service from 9-11 a.m. in the adjacent Williamsburg Lounge. A caring cremation is being performed and interment in South Prairie Chapel Cemetery, Milton, Iowa, will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Oaks Foundation or Aultman Alliance Hospice.