Mary Ward's Obituary
Mary L. Ward died peacefully September 9, 2014 at her residence, The Oklahoma Methodist Manor, Tulsa, Oklahoma. A memorial service will be held at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church at 1:00 PM Saturday, September 13, with Rev. Dr. Bill Tankersley officiating. Burial will be private at Floral Haven Cemetery, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Mary was born September 30, 1919, to the late Ed and Lelia Andrews Barrett in Heber Springs, Arkansas. Her brother, Howard, predeceased her in 1993. Mary earned a BA Degree in Humanities from Hendrix College, Conway, Arkansas, in 1941. She and Charles L. Ward were married November 1, 1942. The couple lived in Durant and Poteau, Oklahoma, where Charles was a newspaper editor. In 1959 the Wards moved to Washington, D.C., where Charles served almost 30 years as Administrative Assistant to Congressman Carl Albert and to Senator David Boren. Mary was active in many areas of Washington life. Upon retirement in 1988 the Wards relocated to Tulsa and became active in Boston Avenue United Methodist Church where they were leaders in many programs. In 1998 the couple was awarded the Woodrow B. Seals Laity Award presented by the Perkins School of Theology, SMU, and Dallas, TX. Mary continued activities in the church and the community after Charles’ death in December 1999. Suggested memorials for Mary Ward: Youth Ministry or Redemption Ministry, Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, 1301 South Boston Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74119. Mary is survived by her nieces, Anne Barrett Chamlee (Tilmon) Milledgeville, GA, and Phyllis Barrett Brown (Ron), Sun City Center, FL; great niece Katherine Chamlee, Natchez, MS; great nephew Alan Barrett Chamlee and his daughter, Meghan, of Macon, GA; Ward niece Jackie Bradley of Pleasant Hill, CA, and her children Casey, Toby, Erin and Patrick; many other relatives and friends, including long-time friends Virginia Gray of Tulsa, Emma Richardson and Linda Pierce of Texas.
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