Imogene "Jean" Young was born in Miami, Oklahoma, on December 28, 1929, to Daisy Adelphia (Flook) and Clarence Nathan Young. She has one brother, Byron Young. Her family moved to Joplin, Missouri, where she attended kindergarten, grade and high school. In 1951 she graduated cum laude from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, with a B.A. in Sociology. After graduation she worked as a recreational therapist for the American Red Cross in military hospitals until 1955.

In 1955, she married Dr. Samuel M. Ford, a dermatologist. The Fords moved to Clark County in 1962. Jean Ford served as a teacher's aide in the Clark County School District during the 1963-64 year. The Fords have two daughters, Janet and Carla. She attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas as a graduate student, and received her M.A. in Public Administration in 1978.

Ford was active in numerous civic and political activities. She chaired the ad hoc Library Committee which brought about the creation of the Clark County Library District in 1964-65. In 1967, Governor Paul Laxalt appointed Ford to the Nevada State Park Commission. She served on the Commission until 1973, under both Democratic and Republican Governors. She was also appointed by Rogers Morton, Secretary of the Interior, to serve on the Western Region Advisory Committee for National Parks.

As a member of the League of Women Voters, Ford served as local president from 1965-1967. She was on the State Board from 1967-1969, and was state president from 1969-1971. As an active League member, Ford conducted workshops on human relations and practical politics. She coordinated county studies of Planning and Zoning, Parks and Recreation and a state study on Juvenile Delinquency. One of Ford's pet projects was the designation of Red Rock as a public recreation area rather than a private development. Ford also served as a League of Women Voters Lobbyist during the 1971 legislative session. In 1972, she was a member of the Solid Waste Pollution Control Committee, the Regional Planning Council, and the Land Use Advisory Committee to the Legislative Sub-Committee on the Environment.

Jean Ford was elected to the Nevada State Assembly as a Republican in 1972 and served two terms, from 1972-76. After losing her bid for the State Senate in 1976, she changed her political party affiliation to Democrat and ran again for State Senate in 1978. She was successful and served one term from 1978 to 1982.

In 1980-1981 she operated a consulting firm - Jean Ford Associates - formed with four other women. She chose not to run for office again, and formed the Jean Ford Company, which she operated from 1982-1985. During this time she also formed Nevada Discovery Tours with Maxine Peterson as her partner.

In 1985, Ford was appointed to the cabinet level position of Director of the Governor's Office of Community Service by Governor Richard Bryan. She moved to Carson City and served in this position until 1989. From 1989-1991, she was manager of Reno Tahoe Company, a destination management company providing tourism related services.

Beginning in 1991, Ford acted as program coordinator and instructor in the Women's Studies Program at the University of Nevada, Reno. Ford originated the idea for the Nevada Women's Archives in 1992 at the University of Nevada, Reno. In 1994, she expanded the program to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus. She actively worked to acquire collections for both campuses.

Along with a small group of women from northern Nevada, Ford went on to found the Nevada Women's History Project, which included a northern and southern region. In September 1997, Ford was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. She died on August 26, 1998. She spent the last year of her life working on women's history projects and organizing her research files and slide collection.