Dr. Nathan F. Ford, longtime optometrist, former state representative and lifelong Cocke Countian died July 22. He was 97.
Born May 23, 1927, to John G. Ford and Anna Davis Ford, he was the 10th of 12 children born to the couple in the Cocke County mountains. Instead of going to Class Night with the Cocke County High School Class of 1945, his mother and he took the bus to Knoxville where she gave permission for him to enlist in the U.S. Navy. He served two years, including time on the USS Grapple, which earned him access to the GI Bill that enabled him to further his education.
He graduated from the Southern College of Optometry in 1950, and the college later recognized him with the Lifetime Achievement Award. He was the first full-time optometrist in Newport, was a member of many professional organizations and was named Optometrist of the Year in 1980. The practice he established still exists today and is known as VisionSource of Newport.
“Without Dr. Ford, none of us would be here today, we owe it all to him,” said Dr. Emily Eisenhower of VisionSource. “He chose to open the first optometry practice in Newport. She said Ford remained in contact with the practice and was so knowledgeable about eye care he was an asset.
“He cared so much about the people. He had a huge impact on me becoming an optometrist as did Dr. Jeff Foster and Dr. Kurt Steele,” Eisenhower said. “Unfortunately, I never got to practice with him, but he was an absolute champion in optometry. Our community wouldn’t have been the same without him.”
When Ford was only 27, he was elected to the Cocke County Board of Education. During his tenure, many of the county’s one-room and two-room schools were consolidated. His contributions to education were recognized when he received the Cocke County Education Foundation’s Celebrate Our Successes Award. He was also recognized as the Senior Citizens Home Assistance Service Citizen of the Year.
Ford also served as chair of the first Cocke County Economic Development Commission and as Chamber of Commerce director. He was a longtime member of the Lions Club, chair of the Cocke County Election Commission and charter member of the Smoky Mountain Country Club.
In 1976 he was elected to his first of three terms as a representative in the Tennessee House of Representatives where he represented constituents of Cocke, Jefferson and Sevier counties. His service was recognized by a resolution of the legislature naming a portion of Highway 321 in his honor.
He and his wife, Mary, would have celebrated their 70th anniversary this year. The Fords were the parents of Beth Driskill, John Ford and Mark Ford. They have three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
State Rep. Jeremy Faison said, “Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Dr. Nathan Ford will forever miss him. Dr. Ford’s wit, charm and passion for life were infectious and being around him was a pure joy. Miriam and I loved him and he was incredibly special to our family. There is no telling how many lives were impacted in a positive way by Dr. Ford, but I sure know mine was.”
State Sen. Steve Southerland said, “Dr. Ford served the great state with honor. It was always a pleasure to speak with Dr. Ford and work with him. He will be sadly missed. We are praying for his family to be comforted.”
Longtime friend Charlotte Leibrock said, “Nathan knew many people and loved to relay stories about them.”
A story she heard about Dr. Ford from a Del Rio patient of his, who, after telling Dr. Ford how he and his wife were so proud of their children going to college, Dr. Ford told him, “If you ever have trouble with that, come see me and you and I will go rob a bank.”
She recalled Dr. Ford always went to church wearing his Sunday best, but he may be seen welcoming people out front of the church while he was sweeping the sidewalk. “He was there to do whatever needed to be done,” she said.
“He and Mary were perfect mates. They loved offering hospitality to family and friends. Plus, they visited the sick from the church and the community. Both of them made everyone feel like cherished friends,” Leibrock said.
The family will receive friends from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9, at Costner-Maloy and Brown Funeral Home. The funeral will be held Saturday, Aug. 10, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church at 10 a.m.
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