Darrell Ford, a longtime resident of Mazama, has passed on at the age of 86, on Jan. 20, 2023. He was born in Bozeman, Montana, on June 11, 1936.
Originally from Lynnwood, Darrell and his wife, Marlene, also his high school sweetheart, acquired property in Mazama on the Methow River in 1968. They visited Mazama often, as it reminded him of Montana, where he has family ties. Together they built a bed and breakfast, the “Choke Cherry Inn,” and moved to the Methow Valley full-time in 1987.
Twenty years later they built a second home where they lived for the next 10 years. Darrell was the owner of Darrell Ford & Associates, a land survey company. His company surveyed many properties throughout the upper Methow Valley, including the Methow Community Trail system in its early stages from Mazama to Brown’s Farm. Darrell was a Mazama Community Club board member. He believed in the Mazama community and what it has to offer.
Darrell leaves behind his wife Marlene, of 67 years, daughter Kim, who also lives in Mazama, son Darren, daughter Marta, and son Kelley, also of Mazama. He leaves behind nine grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
