Shirley Eloise (Evans) Ward 1917-2007

DRURY, EVANS, WARD, LEHNER, BUCKMASTER

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 5/9/2007 at 19:06:22

Shirley Ward

Shirley Eloise Evans Ward, 89, died Saturday, April 14, 2007 of natural causes at Thornton Heights Assisted Living in Lansing, where she had resided for the past three years. A Remembrance Service was held Tuesday, April 17 at Thornton Heights Assisted Living in Lansing.

Shirley was born in Early to Elmer Franklin and Clara Mae (Drury) Evans October 16, 1917. She grew up in Early, attended Christian College in Columbia, MO and graduated from Grinnell College in Grinnell. She and her husband, Don L. Ward, lived in Early from 1940 to 1983, when they moved to Sun City West, AZ.

In Early, Shirley was deeply involved in the Methodist Church, held many offices in the District Methodist Women's organization, and was president of the Crestland Community School District, as well as many other community drama and town events. She was also always very active in her support of worldwide and local educational funding for women.

Shirley is survived by two daughters, Julianne Ward Lehner of Durango, CO and JoEllyn Ward Buckmaster of Lansing; two sons-in-law, Edward Lehner and Raleigh Buckmaster; five grandchildren, Sarah Torres of Ketchum, ID, Leah Ward Yule of Aspen, CO, Drew Buckmaster of Lake Tahoe, CA, Owen Buckmaster of Tahoe City, CA, and Dow Buckmaster of Bozeman, MT; and great grandchildren Laurel Yule, Lance Hooker, Alicia Buckmaster, and Benjamin Torres. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and brother Robert Evans.

A memorial fund in Shirley's name has been established with the Heifer Project, a worldwide organization which provides animals and education to women and families to help them achieve economic sustainability for their families, and to share the animals' offspring with their neighbors in need.

Waukon Standard, April 25, 2007