Timothy DeFord, 66, of Winterset and formerly of Perry passed away Saturday, June 17, 2023, at his home in Winterset, Iowa, after a long battle with cancer.
Funeral services will be held Friday, June 23 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church at 1001 N. Lincoln St., Creston, IA 50801. Visitation will be Thursday, June 22 from 4-7 p.m. at the Carris Family Funeral Home and Cremation Care in Perry. Burial will be at the Green Lawn Cemetery in Afton, Iowa.
Tim was preceded in death by his sister, Marlys, who died in infancy; and by his father, Lyle.
He is survived by his mother, Emily; his brothers, Mark, Joel, Steve, Curt and Doug; by his sister, Susan (Colin) McClure; by his loving wife, Rita; and their nine children, Nathan, Rachel, Colin, Caleb, Betsy, Isaac, Titus, Honor and Leah; and by 21 grandchildren and counting.
Tim was born in Winterset on Sept. 4, 1956, as the third child of Lyle and Emily DeFord.
He spent his childhood in Dacoma, Oklahoma, and then mostly in northeast Nebraska, where his father served as a pastor for many years.
As a boy, Tim came to see his need for a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, and he trusted in Him and committed his life to serving Him. This relationship, through the blood of Jesus, set the direction for the rest of his life.
After attending Prairie Bible Institute, Tim moved to Perry to work with his uncle, Dave Lord, at Lord’s Clothing.
While in Perry, Tim met and married the love of his life, Rita. They were married on March 24, 1979. He was a devoted husband and father, eager to provide and teach and care.
His face would beam whenever he got the chance to tell people about his wife and his children. The beam grew even bigger when he was able to tell folks about his grandkids. Giving them rides on the lawn mower, going on walks with them through the woods or around Winterset and getting ice cream with them at Frostee’s were some of his most treasured times.
While working with his uncle, he developed a passion for men’s fine clothing and eventually purchased the business. He went from operating stores in Oskaloosa and Grinnell and then Perry for many years before moving the store to Ankeny. Eventually, he closed the store and shifted to being a traveling clothier.
Over the years, Tim built a business with men in small towns all over the Midwest who still needed to wear suits and ties but did not have a local store. One of his great joys in life was traveling to see his customers and selling them custom made shirts and suits, but a greater joy for him than that were the relationships and close friendships he had with so many of them.
His unique work was featured in many newspapers, including the front page of the New York Times.
In addition to his family and his business, Tim loved old cars, especially muscle cars made by American Motors Corp. He also had a knack for obscure history, especially if it involved the Great Depression, clothing business in the good old days, railroads or Winterset. He often would try to get all his family to enjoy watching videos about these things with him—but with limited success.
His life was a testament to the grace of God and in growing in Christ-likeness. He spent countless hours reading his Bible, listening to it being taught and in praying for others. As a result, he grew in love for Christ and for others. He grew from trying to do things right to trying to love people right. His family and his customers were just a few of the beneficiaries of his walk with his God.
Tim will be remembered as a man who had a heart for those who were lonely, as a man who loved his wife and kids in word and deed, as a man with a twinkle in his eyes and a song in his heart and as a man who desired to be like his Savior.
One of his favorite verses was in Psalm 103: “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” These were words he lived by and a legacy he leaves behind.
Memorials will be given to family for later designation and may be left at the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.carrisfuneralhome.com.
So sorry for your loss.