Wilma Lucille (Reeves) Ford was born August 21, 1923, in Cowgill, MO, to Arthur F Reeves and Etta M. (O’Dell) Reeves.
She attended eight years at a one-room schoolhouse, Petetree, and four years of high school at Cowgill. She graduated in May of 1941 and married James W. Ford one week after the Pearl Harbor attack on December 14, 1941. They were married almost 48 years when Jim passed away in 1989. There were no children born to this union.
After the war, Wilma lived in the Stet area from 1945 until she sold their farm and moved to Westbrook, Kearney, in 2020.
During the time she lived in the Stet area, she worked as a cook for Stet school as a helper at Bales Hardware and Feed Store and later grocery store. She then became Post Master for Stet when Ray Bales retired. She held that job until retiring in 2011 at the age of 88.
All her siblings preceded her in death: two sisters, Thelma Wheat and Flossie McElwee; and three brothers: Wilbur Reeves, Edwin Reeves, and Robert Reeves.
She had nine nephews and nieces, three nephews preceded her in death. Surviving nephews and nieces include: Sandria Shields, Lowell (Emelda) Reeves, Velda (Rick) Conard, Larry (Sherry) Reeves, and Tim (Vickie) Reeves. Those preceding her in death include J.W. McElwee, Ronald McElwee, and Gary Reeves.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to New Hope Methodist Church. They can be left at or mailed to Thurman Funeral Home, 507 East Main Street-P.O. Box 190, Richmond, MO 64085.
Visitation with funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at New Hope Methodist Church, Highway K, north of Richmond, with visitation beginning at 10:00 A.M., with services to follow at 11:00 A.M. Burial will be in Richmond Memory Gardens. Please remember to share your memories of Wilma with the family by visiting www.thurmanfuneralhome.com.
Source: KMZU, The Farm
