Raymond Ford Jr.

Raymond John "Tiny" Ford, 85, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Oct. 21, 2002, at his home.

He was born Sept. 29, 1917, in Cape Girardeau, son of Raymond John and Catherine Rogers Ford Sr. He and Lucille Virginia Griffaw were married Oct. 5, 1938, in St. Louis. She died Oct. 18, 2001.

Early in his career, Tiny Ford worked as a machinist, riverboat mechanic, and professional boxer. He moved to Fresno, Calif., where he worked at various jobs, owned a tavern, and was a lumberjack in Oregon. He continued to box professionally along the West Coast.

Upon returning to Cape Girardeau he owned and operated several regional bars and nightclubs, including Tiny's Danceland, The Jamna, The Ozark Corral, Dutchtown Tavern, and Edgewater Bar.

He established Ford's Booking Agency in 1956. Tiny sponsored and worked with The Golden Gloves organization in 1955 and 1956, and helped organize and was president of Babe Ruth League in 1957. He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.

Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Michael "Mike" and Beckie Ford of Cape Girardeau, Ray "Butch" and Carol Ford of Chesterfield, Mo.; a daughter, Patricia "Patty" Ford of Cape Girardeau; a brother, John Ford of Cape Girardeau; a sister, Irene Richardson of Cape Girardeau; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, stepmother, a brother, and two sisters.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. today. Parish prayers will be at 7.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Vincent de Paul Church. The Rev. Martin Culligan will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery.