Joseph 'Joey' Ford ... accomplished welder; at 21

BARRINGTON - Joseph Dwight Ford of Barrington left this world but not our hearts on Wednesday Sept. 15, 2021. Though he was here only a short amount of time he did not waste any moment and jam packed his life full of exhilarating adventures and crazy antics. There is no doubt that his memory will be kept alive as people will certainly tell and continue to retell what can only be described as epic "Joey Stories".

Joey was born on January 3, 2000 in Exeter and was the son of Jim and Lisa Ford and the younger brother of Christopher Ford. Joey had the natural ability to command a room and as easily as he could entertain a crowd with his humor and practical joking, he, like many boys, often frustrated those that loved him the most with his impulsive decisions. But any person who took just a moment to look behind the big personality, to look past some of the aggravating behaviors immediately saw his gentle soul when interacting with children and the limitless compassion that moved him to always give support to friends and strangers alike.

Until the age of 20 he lived in East Kingston, spending his free time creating havoc but also discovering the joy of working on anything that had an engine. If something didn't have an engine he would fix that, just like when he took a weed wacker and attached it to a bike so he could zoom around the driveway.

Between the ages of 16 - 18 his interests widened to include welding and adding his "Joey touch" to whichever vehicle he owned at the time. The number of trucks owned by Joey over his short life was rather impressive for his age but necessary due to the abundance of adventures each truck experienced. Who can ever forget the Toyota (pronounced Tie-yota), the big white 7.3 Ford Diesel, or the truck that he turned into a jeep by removing the doors and installing his own roll bar inside. Every dent and scratch was proudly displayed as a battle scar earned from fighting the world's expectation to conform. Joey's ability to weld was key to keeping the fleet of trucks in running condition and it wasn't long before word got out that Joe Ford was willing to help fix anybody's vehicle. Much to his father's dismay the garage soon became a collection of bumpers, mufflers, and hoods belonging to the friends of Joey.

In 2018, after a long 13 years of schooling, Joey graduated from the Exeter High School located in Exeter and was hired full time by D.F. Richard in Dover. It was at this job that Joey became Joe. The company, from day one, showed him through their actions that they trusted and believed in him and fortified with that support he literally changed overnight. His 6'3" frame stood a little taller as he wore that D.F Richard shirt embroidered with the name Joe.

In May of 2020, armed with a paycheck and newfound confidence in himself, Joey moved out of his childhood home and became the owner of a house in Barrington, just minutes down the road from his parent's new home. No longer having access to a large heated garage Joey did what any reasonable person would do in that situation and just brought the dirtbikes into the middle of his kitchen to work on them. Though his friends hung out at the house often, Joey desired more company. It was at that time that Joey became the dad to a kitten, a tiny redhead just like him with the energy and personality that rivaled his own. His closest neighbor would hear him come home from work and say, "Hi Tig" and then the noise of his size 13 boots clomping up and down the hallway as he and Tig chased each other around.

Joey's one last and largest act of kindness was the gift of life. Mere hours after his passing his liver was saving a man in his 60s, his left kidney was saving a man in his 30s and his right kidney was saving a man in his 20s and he would not have wanted it any other way. Joey's parents are so proud of their son and find peace despite their devastating grief just knowing that 3 different families are now able to have more time with their loved ones and get to watch them experience all of life's milestones.

Joey leaves behind his parents Lisa & Jim Ford, his brother Christopher & his wife Sarah of New Gloucester, Me, his grandmother "Nanie" Kate Byrd of Kingfield, Maine, his grandparents "Grammy & Grampy" Sally and Dwight Barney of Lee, his grandfather "Papa Joe" Joseph Barberio of Liberty, Maine, his great-aunt Patricia Willard of Durham, his "cousin brother" Hunter Gibson of Lee, his cousin Emily Pincince and her husband Matt, his aunt and uncle Kristen & Eric Gibson of Lee, his cousins Jess & Allison Ford both of Salt Lake City, Utah, his extended family at D.F. Richard and his many amazing and loyal friends that supported and loved him just the way he was.

ARRANGEMENTS: All are invited to celebrate Joey's life on Sunday, September 26, 2021 from 1-5 at Powder Major Farm located in Madbury, NH. The day will be filled with videos and pictures of Joey living his life to the fullest and in his unique "Joey way". We hope you bring stories and memories about him and will share them with his family and friends by either speaking at the mic or writing them down on the available memory cards. Please come dressed comfortably and the way that Joey would always see you. Some of Joey's ashes will be placed in the family plot in the Lee Hill Cemetery in Lee, NH but rest assured, the rest of his ashes will be taken on a few last adventures by the people that he loved so much.