Jack Douglas Ford

Feb. 21, 1949 - Jan. 14, 2026

Jack Douglas Ford, 76, was born Feb. 21, 1949, in Logan, Utah, to George Everett Ford and Venie Alice Coombs Ford. He passed away Jan. 14, 2026, in Greybull, Wyo. George and Alice’s family eventually numbered nine children; however only four grew to adulthood: Mae, Bonnie, Liz and Jack. Jack grew up in Smithfield, Utah, raised in the LDS church and learning the value of work early in life. He worked alongside his father and uncles at Ford & Gregory Construction. When just 8 years old, he learned to run a sheep-foot roller as they constructed Winder Dam in Idaho. As a teenager and adult, he worked in the construction company with his dad on many projects and learned the internal workings of the business, as well as the mechanics, maintenance and repair of the equipment and project management. At an early age, he knew how to overhaul equipment and automobile engines. When he was in ninth grade, he was told he could have his first car if he would overhaul the engine, so he did.

Jack attended Smithfield schools, graduating from Sky View High School in 1967, then later attended Utah State University. He and his friend Tom Cark were selected to represent Sky View at the Plymouth Trouble Shooting Contest in Detroit. They returned home with trophies and awards. Thy both received scholarships to Lincoln Technical Institute in Phoenix, where they ventured to add to their automotive education.  They soon returned to Cache Valley. Jack was a car enthusiast and an excellent mechanic, especially enjoying his 1966 and 1968 Chevelles. Street racing and racing on the drag strip in Pocatello were some of his favorite endeavors. His parents went to Pocatello to watch him race.

Ultimately, Jack spent 20 years as a truck driver, transporting milk, livestock and over-the-road loads. He drove for Cache Valley Dairy, Cedar Valley Transport, Miller Brothers and several other trucking companies.  He eventually had his own Peterbilt, leased to Schreiber Foods. He drove from Utah to California to New Jersey, and from Canada to Tennessee to Florida. In due time he returned to construction, heavy equipment operation and crusher operation, where his skill, precision, and deep mechanical intuition were widely known.

Jack married his high school sweetheart, Angela King, in the Logan LDS temple. They were blessed with two children, Raquel Ford and Jack Dustin Ford. He and Angela later divorced.

Later he married Linda Diane Eliason Gerstner.  They had two sons, Joshua Douglas Ford and Jonathan David Ford, who joined Linda’s children Jerilyn, Jill, Kelley, and Kristie. He and Linda were later divorced.

Jack met his eternal love, Judy Dunn, and together, they shared adventure and a large and deeply loved family. Jack and Judy share 10 children, 25 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren, with two more on the way.

Jack is survived by his wife, Judy, and their children:  Raquel (Danny) Harp, Oroville, Calif., Dustin Ford (Christina), Oroville, Calif., Joshua Ford (Loni), Oroville, Calif., Jonathan Ford (Ashley) Morton Grove, Ill., Heather Northrop, Payette, Idaho, Jeremy Northrop (Regina) Tooele Utah, Titus Northrop (Jennifer), Monroe, Utah, Jared Northrop (Beth) Sterling, Utah, Cary ‘Barney’ Northrop, Logan Utah, and Lacey Ford (Nick Kern) Greybull, Wyo.

Grandchildren: Brittanee Northrop (Josh), Nicole Lusk (Jeremiah), Amber Lusk (Logan), Colton Northrop (Dani), Jaycee Nuttall (Jordan), Ryan Brown (Simon), Jeremy Northrop Jr, Matthew Northrop, John Northrop, Claire Northrop, James Northrop, Ethan ‘Gus’ Preetorius, Buck Sullivan-Kern, Briana Barkey (Trent), Shelby Harp (Shane), Jordann Wood (Chris), Kodi Martin (Chris), Madelynn Cronin (Dylan), Joseph Ford, Sophia (Gavin) Carlson, Joel Ford, Brooklyn Ford (Brandon Barber), Drew Ford, Ellie Ford, and Nora Ford.

Great grandchildren: Uther Winters-Northrop, Lily Lusk, Roman Lusk, Jocelyn Lusk Vasiliow, Weston Northrop, Jaydan Nuttall, Aurelie Nuttall, Violet Brown, Theo Brown, Annabelle Barkey, Rowan Barkey, Brandt McGibbon, Hailie Harp, Mallory Will, Max Krenek, Elaine Martin, Henry Haley, Liam Haley, Maxwell Haley, Declan Cronin, and Evelyn Barber.

Among his grandchildren, he held a particularly meaningful and grandfatherly role in the life of his grandson, Ethan Shay ‘Gus’ Preetorius, who cherished him deeply. 

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, George and Alice Ford, and eight siblings and their spouses: Everett Lloyd Ford, Alice Mae Smith (Mel), Bonnie Anderson (Scott), Dixie Jean Ford, Elizabeth Louetta Andrews (Don), Vern Allen Ford, Sally Lee Ford, and George Stanley ‘Joe’ Ford.

Jack was known for his sharp and curious mind. He had a deep interest in law, politics, and the Constitution, carrying a firm and thoughtful view of the world. Many would call him a conspiracy theorist, though his conclusions were the result of thorough research; time has proven him more right than not. He loved technology and was endlessly fascinated by new tools, gadgets, and digital developments. He delighted in computers, smartphones, GPS, drones, and the ever-evolving world of information. He was a romantic, and an avid country music fan and his ‘truck driver stories’ were legendary.

Jack was also a true food lover. He enjoyed grilling, experimenting in the kitchen, and savoring good meals—especially shrimp, crab, lobster, salmon, a tender steak, and avocados. He famously ate tomatoes like most people eat apples.

He was a ‘Jack’ of all trades in the truest sense: a skilled equipment operator, a talented mechanic, a thinker, a learner, and a builder. His intelligence was both practical and intricate—his mind worked like a finely tuned machine.

His presence, guidance, humor, stubbornness, curiosity, and love will be deeply missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the 17th LDS Ward Meetinghouse, 345 East 300 South, Smithfield, UT 84335, at 11 a.m., with a viewing beforehand from 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. A viewing will be held on Friday night, Jan. 30, from 6 to 8 pm at Nelson’s Funeral Home, 85 South Main St, Smithfield, UT  84335. Jack would like us to share joy.

Interment after services will take place at the Smithfield City Cemetery under the direction of Nelson Funeral Home.

Special thanks goes to Atwood Funeral Home, Rain Potter, Alexis Duncan, Audrie Wisell, and Donna Blankenship, all of Three Rivers Health; Kristanza Bronnenberg, Clifford Goodrich, David and Connie Epperlie, Super 8, Cody and Washakie Medical Center, especially Dr Morroni and Rachel RN.