Ford J. Reynolds, age 96, passed away on February 16, 2025, at home, the place of his birth, under the care of his loving family and some very special caregivers.
Calling hours will be held at North Country Christian Fellowship, 1800 US 11, Gouverneur, NY, on February 28, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. His funeral service will be held at the North Country Christian Fellowship on March 1, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Michael Tomford officiating. A luncheon will follow the service. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Richville in the spring. Condolences may be shared online at www.frenchfuneralhomes.com.
Ford was born at home on the family farm in Richville on November 23, 1928, to the late James A. and Emeline (Johnson) Reynolds. He graduated from Richville High School in 1945 and Canton Agricultural and Technical Institute in 1947. After college, he returned to the family dairy farm, Riverside Farm, which he operated for 50 years, until retiring from farming in 1997. He was ordained into the ministry in 1994 and served as the pastor of the Richville Christian Fellowship Church (now North Country Christian Fellowship), retiring in 2009 at age 80.
He married Sarah E. Washburn on September 29, 1962, at the Macomb Wesleyan Church. They had four children: Laurie, Jamie, Jill and Heidi.
Besides running the family farm, Ford’s early life was marked with playing basketball in the North Country Town League, and being faithful in the Richville United Church, singing in the choir. He became vice president of the Northern Bulk Milk Co-op and president of the Richville Welsh Society. He was well known for singing at many weddings and funerals throughout the North Country. He also was active in the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International and founded the local chapter in Gouverneur.
Ford’s life was marked by devotion and service to God and family. He enjoyed spending time with family, including an annual family vacation after haying was completed each summer. He enjoyed playing family games of basketball and ping pong, where he could still beat everyone well into his eighties. In his early forties, Ford had a personal encounter with God that impacted the rest of his life. He served as a church elder at Christian Fellowship Center for many years and took every opportunity to visit the sick and pray for anyone who was in need of healing. Ford’s biography, Faith of a Farmer, was written by Derek Levendusky in 2022.
Ford is survived by his wife of 62 years, Sarah Reynolds, and four children and their spouses; Laurie (Chris) Miller of Ballston Lake, Jamie (Jennifer) Reynolds of Oneonta, Jill (Maurice) Lovell of Newark, and Heidi (Derek) Levendusky of Clarksville, TN. He also is survived by 14 grandchildren; Rachel (Stephen) Lightner, Rebekah and Nathaniel Miller, Hannah and Elizabeth Reynolds, Sarah, Martin and Noah Lovell, and Grace, Joye, Esther, Reese, Audrey and Jackson Levendusky. He is also survived by 3 step grandchildren, John-Austin, Kasey and Andrew Pajerski as well as many nieces and nephews. He is survived by one sister, Doris Putman, and one sister-in-law, Dorothy Reynolds.
In addition to his parents, Ford is predeceased by a brother, David Reynolds, and sisters, Louise Schwellensattl and Laura “Chick” Lenahan.
Donations in memory of Ford may be made to the North Country Christian Fellowship building fund, the Richville Fire Dept. or another charity of your choice.