Karen F. (Morrison) Ford, 76, of Grinnell, passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at Solon Nursing Care Center in Solon, Iowa.

Family will greet friends at an open house gathering from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Friday, August 21, 2026, at Smith Funeral Home - Grinnell. A private interment will be held at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell.

If desired, memorial contributions may be designated to Suncrest Hospice or the Alzheimer's Association . Cards and memorials may be mailed in care of Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.

Karen Faye Morrison was born on July 26, 1950, in Grinnell, Iowa. She was raised in Grinnell and graduated from Grinnell High School with the Class of 1968.

On March 19, 1971, Karen was united in marriage to Gerald Ford. The couple made their home in Grinnell, where they raised their two sons, William and Robert. Karen held various administrative positions with local businesses, including GTE and Grinnell Mutual, before retiring in 2014.

Karen enjoyed gardening, reading murder mystery novels, and crafting. Her family was often the recipient of her many craft projects, including cherished Halloween costumes she created over the years. Above all, Karen loved her family and especially enjoyed following her children and grandchildren in their many activities.

Karen is survived by her husband, Gerald Ford; her sons, William (Heather Benning) Ford and Robert (Jennifer) Ford; her grandchildren, Dani, Braxton, and Lilian Ford; and her siblings, Linda Conner and Daryl (Connie) Morrison.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Junior William Morrison and Margaret Lellus Durr Clark; and her brother-in-law, Larry Conner.