Judy Ward

(From Parker Mortuary)

Judith (Judy) Ellen Ward – devoted wife and beloved mother and Mamaw – passed on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

Judy was born at Jane Chinn Hospital in Webb City, Missouri, October 10, 1940, to Ellen and Claude (Jim) Reece Hunt, Jr. Her early childhood was spent running around her grandfather’s store (Hunt’s Health Food) in downtown Joplin with her brothers Claude Reece Hunt III (Jim) and Robert Dehm Hunt (Bob). She attended Joplin Senior High School where she was a drum majorette in the Drum & Bugle Corps and was president of her sorority.

She and James (Jim) Ward met in 1957 when the two were just teenagers cruising Main. They married 18 months later and raised 5 children together. In addition to her own kids, Judy basically adopted the over 27 kids in the Rosedale Community Association and the Delaware neighborhood in the late 70s and 80s. She loved and terrified every single one of them, but lit up as each of them called her their second Mom. Her door was open to one and all.

Her most cherished moments were time with her immediate and extended family on their annual Sammy Lane Resort/Branson vacations that spanned more than 35 years. California adventures to visit her daughter topped the list in recent years. But we believe her most cherished times were any time she had visitors, hosted parties and holidays, or indoctrinated new friends and family into her family’s special brand of competitive card playing, especially once Judy and Jim moved to Grand Lake. She was a people-person from the start, and enjoyed the love and friendships they developed everywhere they lived, but especially at the lake.

Judy worked at Newton’s Jewelers throughout the years before starting her own glass etching business (Creative Glassworks) in the 90s. She belonged to the Joplin Chamber of Commerce and the Joplin Business Club.

She is survived by her adoring husband, Jim, of 65 years; her loving children Terry, Gary (Carrie Jo) of Joplin, and Brian (Kitty) of Joplin, Gregg (Fanchion) of Neosho, and Alecia (Scott) of California; 7 grandchildren Kacy Ward (Donny) and Kyle Ward of Tulsa, Nathan Ward (Shela) of Joplin, Geoffrey Ward (Brittany) of Claremore, Kirsten Oviedo (Andres) of Dayton, Ohio, Ashley Ward (Christian) of Carthage, and Brogan Ward (Jaxson) of Joplin; 11 great-grandchildren (Lane, Chayse, Kaynon, Dominyk ,MaHayla, Aiden, Valeska, Ledger, Josephine, Maddox, and Kohen); her older brother Jim Hunt of Little Rock, Arkansas; her sisters-in-law Molly Walsh Hunt of Bentonville, Arkansas, and Barbara Morrison of Joplin. She will also be missed by her nieces, nephews, and cousins on all sides of the family, including: Kelly Morrison of Fishersville, Virginia; Scott Morrison of Joplin; and Tracy May, Shawn Phillips, and Elizabeth Gitchell of Little Rock.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her in-laws (Josephine McCollum & Merrill Ward), her brother Bob, her brother-in-law Clyde Morrison, one grandchild (Mallary), and one great-grandchild (Cadence). Donations may be made to the Solace House.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, April 28th at The Main Event, 611 South Main St, Joplin, MO from 2-4pm. All those whose lives she touched are welcome to join us to remember and celebrate her wonderful life.