Michael Craig Ford, 56, died at his home in Junction City, KS on March 21, 2018. Michael was born in Gray, Georgia on August 4, 1961 to Lewis Ford and Cecil (Blount) Ford. He graduated from Gray High School and later went on to earn his Associates degree.

Shortly after graduation, Michael joined the U.S. Army where he worked in the Personnel Branch. He served in the military for more than 20 years in both active duty and with the Army National Guard in Manhattan, Kansas. His duty assignments included: Fort Dix, New Jersey; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Fort Richardson, Maryland; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; and Fort Riley, Kansas. Michael was deployed to Desert Storm in 1992 and Kosovo in 2004. In 2007, Michael was Honorably Discharged from the Army National Guard.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents Lewis and Cecil Ford; daughter, Ute Sarah Rivera, 2013; sisters Cecil Elizabeth Ford, 1955 and Sharon Pamela Ford, 2012; and brothers Lewis Cecil Ford Jr., 1986 and Jerry Lee Ford, 2006.

Michael is survived by the love of his life, Nancy Holsinger Tucker; married on August 20, 1994 in Junction City, KS. He is also survived by his son Greg Tucker of Salina and grandchildren Samantha (great-granddaughters, KayCee and Tatyanna), Desirae, Gabby, Hayllie, Lewis (son of Ute, deceased) Allan, Christopher; daughters Rubie Munzell-Johnson, her husband Cory and grandchildren David, Lucas and Matthew of Olathe, KS and Katrina Ayon, her husband Roman and grandchildren Alexander and Emilia of Richland, WA; and grandson Fernando Rivera whom he raised as his son after the death of his mother, Ute; three sisters, Carol Ford Stewart and her husband Clark of Macon, GA; Sandra Ford Waller of Milledgeville, GA and Melody Ford Farler and her husband Berry; nephews, Terry Le Shaw Waller (Tammy) of Milledgeville, GA; Clark Caronne Stewart of Macon, GA; nieces, Mylshia Javon Ford of Augusta and Jasmyne Sha Dai Ford of Milledgeville, GA; great nephews Xavier Waller of Milledgeville, GA and Adion L. Ford of Augusta, GA.

Michaels’ Wake will be held Wednesday evening, March 28, 2018 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Penwell-Gabel Junction City Funeral Chapel, 203 N. Washington St., Junction City, KS

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 29, 2018 at the 2nd Missionary Baptist Church, 701 W. 10th St., Junction City, KS.

Grave site burial with full military honors provided by the Fort Riley Honor Guard to follow, 1:00 p.m., Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery, 5181 Wildcat Creek Rd., Manhattan, KS.

Memorial contributions may be made in Michael’s name to the Boy Scouts of America, Troop #41, Junction City, KS where Michael was an assistant Scoutmaster for many years.