FREEPORT – Hazel Salls Ford went home to be with the Lord on Feb. 27.

She was born on Dec. 3, 1911, the third of six daughters of George and Sarah Mabel Cole Salls of Locke Mills. After completing elementary school, she worked to pay her way through high school, graduating salutatorian of Mechanic Falls High School, Class of 1930.

She taught in several rural schoolrooms during the next few years and attended Gorham Normal School summers, eventually earning her lifetime teaching certificate. Although she enjoyed teaching in both public school and Sunday school, her greatest joy was her family.

She married Reginald Ford on Nov. 20, 1941; they moved to Abington, Mass., where both their son and daughter were born, and then returned home to Maine in 1952. The couple lived in Freeport from 1952 to 1979, and were active members of the First Baptist Church there.

In 1979, they relocated to Norway and enjoyed many winters in Florida. She and Reg celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1991, eight months before Reg died.

As a widow, she lived in an apartment at Bucknam Oaks, Mechanic Falls, until after her 95th birthday and had many dear friends, both at Bucknam Oaks and at Pleasant Street Baptist Church. Her gentle, quiet spirit and her loving servant’s heart were a reflection of her deep faith in Jesus and her reliance on God’s word.

She is survived by her son and wife, Reggi and Sonja Ford of Durham; her daughter and husband, Sara and Don Carrier of Poland; her cherished grandchildren and great-grandchildren: granddaughter, Wendy Ford Rogers, her husband Chris, and their sons Mason and Owen; grandson, Skip Ford and his wife, Laure, and their children Kayla, Luke and Jack; grandson, Matt Carrier and his wife Alora; granddaughter, Stephanie Carrier Doherty, her husband Jeff, and their son DJ; her sister, Avis Ellingwood of South Paris; and many other relatives and friends.

She was predeceased by her husband, Reg; and four sisters, Gladys Ellingwood, Maude Newell, Eunice Salls and Rita Salls.