Gretchen Anne Ford

During the early morning of November 28, 2017 Gretchen Anne Ford, a longstanding pinion of the South County, passed away. Gretchen was born as Gretchen Anne Leick on August 1, 1928 in Bismarck, North Dakota. Her father, George Leick was of Luxembourg extraction and her mother, Marybelle McKinnon came from a long line of Scots. Gretchen was the youngest of six children all of whom had passed long before her death. As a youth Gretchen moved with her family to Havre, Montana where she spent her formative years. As the first step in her pursuing a life of independence and self-determination she enrolled in the College of Saint Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota where she was one of the first people in the country to obtain a college degree in Medical Records Administration and subsequent certification as a Registered Record Administrator (RRA). These permitted her to move freely from hospital-to-hospital across the Central States with her eventually winding up in Louisville, Kentucky. There she married Donald and had her first son. The new family moved to Narragansett, Rhode Island when Donald had been offered the position of Administrator at South County Hospital; their second son arrived shortly afterwards. Given her credentials Gretchen could work at any hospital she wished. From early on she made it quite clear that she would never work for her husband. She also chose not to return to work until both her sons were in school. And when she did her career blossomed as the Director of Medical Records at Westerly Hospital for 25 years. Additionally, due to the implementation of MEDICARE, which required every certified hospital have a RRA consultant, she also consulted at many major healthcare facilities in Rhode Island. After her retirement, in addition to traveling on many adventures, playing golf and bridge, and relaxing at the beach, she immersed herself in community service, most notably working for Seniors Helping Others (SHO) where she became President of the Board. Gretchen is survived by her two sons: Dr. Donald Patrick age 59 and Michael McKinnon age 58 and many close cousins, nieces and nephews and friends. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, December 4, 2017, at 10 am in St. Thomas More Church, 53 Rockland St., Narragansett, RI 02882. Burial will be private. Visiting hours are respectfully omitted. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that any donations be directed to St. Thomas More Church in Narragansett, RI.