CAMDEN — Minnie Ward
Minnie Eliese Stone Ward, 96, of Camden, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 17, 2018, surrounded by family and friends.
She was born on July 26, 1921, third in the family of six girls and one boy raised in the Sardis Community near Sparkman in Dallas County. Upon graduation from Sparkman High School, Minnie married Fletcher B. Stone and moved to Camden. Unto this union, two children were born, Edythe and Fred. In 1950, Minnie passed the Civil Service exam to work as an inspector at the Naval Ammunition Depot in Camden. In 1970, she moved to Altus, Oklahoma, to continue her career at the Altus Airforce Base where she met Dale Ward. They were married on Aug. 19, 1978.
Upon retirement in 1983, Minnie and Dale moved back to Camden to be close to her family. They were members of Fairview United Methodist Church where Minnie was a member for over 75 years. She had a deep love for all her family and being a devout Christian she served others. She enjoyed cooking and frequently took meals to her sister, Madie, in the nursing home. After Dale died, she stayed close to her sisters and felt her calling to take care of everyone else until her health failed.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Fletcher B. Stone, in 1964; her second husband, Dale Olan Ward, in 2014; her son, Fred Wyatt Stone in 1986; her parents, Wyatt Holly and Lena Ballard Jeffers; sisters, Mary Sue Womack White of Texarkana and Lena “Madie” Riggs; and a brother, James “Jim” Thomas Jeffers of Camden.
She is survived by daughter, Edythe Stone Hanson Casamassima and her husband, Salvatore Casamassima; a grand-daughter, Emma Elyse Casamassima of Alpine, California; a granddaughter, Tracey Ann Stone of Charlotte, North Carolina; three sisters, Fann J. Woodward of Little Rock, Berniece McDonald Forcht, and Callie Pate; a special sister-in-law, Josselyn Jennings Jeffers of Camden; along with many nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
Proctor Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Funeral services will be held at Fairview United Methodist Church 2 p.m. Sunday with the Rev. Lucian Lee and the Rev. Allen Crum officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in Camden.
Honorary Pallbearers are John Misenheimer, Bo Misenheimer, Rick Sloan, Phillip Hooker, Stanton Ward and Don Hewett.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Fairview United Methodist Church, the Ouachita County Medical Center Hospice, or a charity of choice.
To sign the online guest register visit www.proctorfuneralhome.com