This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: WHL44 Surnames: YOST, FORD, PATTON Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.michigan.counties.kalamazoo/22748/mb.ashx Message Board Post: YOST, Margaret Ford Of Kalamazoo Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, Margaret, at the age of nine, moved north to Michigan with her family after the death of her father, Robert Ford. Settling in Hillsdale, she, along with her mother, Leithel Patton Ford and her three brothers, Robert, John and William, found themselves among family members which proved a loving support for the grieving family. Margaret completed all of her education, including gaining a Bachelor's Degree at Hillsdale College in Music and English, before marrying Lewis Max Yost in 1943. In 1946, she, along with her daughter, Margaret, then aged two, embarked on a lifetime's travel by joining her husband in northern Italy during the Allied occupation of Europe following the Second World War. After a year of sampling European culture, she was determined to continue capturing the globe. Two more children, Robert, born in 1947 and Katherine, born in 1952, completed the family and the globetrotting began in earnest. After gaining a Master's Degree in ! Education from the University of Michigan, Margaret, along with her husband, Max, taught for some years in Belleville and St. Joseph, before being invited to join a team of advisors to go to Nigeria on a USAID State Department contract setting up vocational education under the aegis of Western Michigan University. A fascination with Africa was the result of this sojourn to the dark continent and many more international friendships were forged during this period. Max joined the faculty at WMU as emeritus professor of mechanical engineering upon the family's return and Margaret pursued her final career as a librarian for the Portage Public Schools. Not content with retirement, they decamped to Beaufort, SC for a number of years to continue working and exploring. Tragically, Robert and Katherine predeceased both their parents, and despite this and ever-increasing health problems, Margaret and Max pursued their interest in the world and its diverse cultures, traveling in all di! rections at every opportunity. Even after being widowed in 2000, and b eing forced onto a regime of dialysis, Margaret never stopped using her passport and traveled to England, France and Italy, re-enacting with her daughter, Margaret, their first visit to La Repubblica 60 years after landing in Naples after WWII. With enormous gratitude to all the family, friends, physicians and nursing staff around the world, Margaret Ford Yost died quietly, quickly and finally without pain at Upjohn Nursing Home last week on Friday, April 25, 2008. She is survived by her daughter, Margaret; brother, William Ford of Hudson, Ohio; sister-in-law, Margery Blaney Ford of Kalamazoo; many nieces and nephews. She will be sadly missed by all who knew here. Notice of a commemorative celebration will be posted later in the year. Published in the Kalamazoo Gazette on 5/2/2008. (Posted by a VOLUNTEER-NO family connection) Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.