Shirley R. Ward

Shirley R. Ward, age 92 passed away in her son Greg Ward’s arms going straight to God’s arms on June 2, 2021 at her home in Idabel, OK. She was born to Earl and Minnie Pearl Dunn at their home in Pontiac, MI on February 21, 1929.

She was a member of the Holly Creek Missionary Baptist Church where she served as treasurer and gave devotionals from the heart for years.

Shirley was an amazing mother and homemaker. Her unconditional love for her five children could only be characterized as “amazing.” Her passion for homemaking especially included canning, quilting and baking bread. Her baked bread won Grand Champion at the county fair several years in a row. She also used her homemaker skills to knit 54 hats for newborn infants at McCurtain Memorial Hospital when she was well into her 80’s.

Shirley also loved fishing and made many fishing trips to Canada with her husband Lional Ward. Her and Lional also made 1 trip to Alaska where she canned fish with Lionel on the bank of the Kenia River.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lionel Ward; son, Leonard Daniel Ward; sisters, Norma Richardson, JoAnn Laskaris; brothers, Hayward, Jim, Edward Earl, Norman and John Dunn as well as brothers-in-laws, Lee Richardson, Jack Beukema and Tom Laskaris, Roger Whitlock and sister-in law Judy Dunn.

Shirley is survived by her sons Ray and wife Salera Ward of Buford, SC, Greg and wife Tawana Ward of Idabel, OK and Stacy and wife Glenda Ward of Benton, LA; daughter, Winniferd Rose and husband Steve Tollett of Florence, OR;  daughter-in-law Angela Ward-Tedder of DeQueen, AR; sisters Harriett Beukema of New York, Joan Dunn of Michigan and Marian Whitlock of Michigan; special nephew and niece Mike and Sharon Ward; 8 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends. 

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at the Holly Creek Missionary Baptist Church. Interment will follow at the Holly Creek Cemetery.

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