Shirley Jean Ward of Wister, Oklahoma was born July 6, 1939 in Lone Pine, Oklahoma to Claude and Imogene (Owens) Welch and passed May 8, 2022 in Wister, Oklahoma at the age of 82.
She is survived by:
Three daughters:
Teresa Gadlage and husband Dave of Louisville, Kentucky
Kelly Thornburg and husband Tim of Wister, Oklahoma
Celia Hancock and husband Mike of Sallisaw, Oklahoma
One sister:
Claudette Hamner of Heavener, Oklahoma
Two sisters-in-law:
Shelba Ward of LeFlore, Oklahoma
Marlene Ward of LeFlore, Oklahoma
Five grandchildren:
Justin McKinney and wife Vanessa, Katrina Jarman and Justin Mills, Garrett Thornburg and wife Kandi, Amber Gadlage and Blake Yount, and Madison Gadlage and Austin Jagger
Fifteen great-grandchildren:
Kieran Jarman, Jaelan Holt, Brody Mills, Brinley Mills, Caydence Lasater, Colton Lasater, Darrion Prina, Aspen Thornburg, Kaydence Thornburg, Zylie Thornburg, Kaynnan Thornburg, Ava Gadlage, Ashlynn Yount, J.T. Yount, and Maci Rae Jagger
Several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends
She was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Ray Ward, a great-grandson, Blaise Thornburg, a grandson-in-law, Richard Jarman, and two sisters, Edith Ward and Brenda Sweeten. Shirley was a life-long resident of the area, a retired Radiology Secretary from Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center, a member of the Leflore Baptist Church, and the Choctaw Nation. After she retired from Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center, she enjoyed babysitting her great-grandchildren. Shirley was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at the LeFlore Baptist Church with Mr. Steve Kitchens, Mr. James Cantwell, and Mr. Jason Herell officiating. Burial will follow in LeFlore Cemetery under the direction of Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home of Heavener, Oklahoma.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons: Kieran Jarman, Brody Mills, Justin Mills, Garrett Thornburg, Austin Jagger, Darrion Prina, and Justin McKinney
Honorary Pallbearers will be: Michael Cantwell, Matt Cantwell, Dallas Ward, Wes Ward, Anthony Ward, Joe Kitchens, Bob Waits, and Blake Yount
Mrs. Ward will lie in state from 9:00 a.m., until 6:00 p.m., Tuesday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Gideon’s International or the Leflore Cemetery Association: P.O. Box 144, Leflore, Oklahoma 74942.
To sign Mrs. Ward’s online guestbook please visit www.dowdenrobertsfuneralhome.com.