Larned – Jean D. Ward, 91, passed peacefully on Sunday, September 30, 2012 in Colorado, where she had resided for the last five years.

Jean was born on June 2, 1921 in Plymouth, Kansas to Andrew James and Carrie Wood Drummond. She attended Elmdale schools and graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Home Economics and received her teaching certificate from the Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia, Kansas in 1943. While attending Kansas State, she was a member of Clovia Sorority, where she served a term as President.

On June 19, 1943, she married Wayne H. Ward in Emporia, Kansas. Wayne and Jean lived in Chase County until 1962 when the family moved to Larned, Kansas and started Ward Feed yard. Jean was active in her communities, including memberships in First United Methodist Church and PEO. She was a life and business partner with Wayne in the livestock and agriculture industry, along with being a homemaker. She was devoted to her family and had a lifelong love of music.

Jean was the loving mother of three children. She is survived by daughter, Virginia Braden and her fiancé, John Shackelford, of Austin, TX; son, Brian Ward and his wife, Diane, of Windsor, CO; and daughter, Mary Rankin and her husband, Randy, of Castle Rock, CO. Jean was a caring grandmother of her seven grandchildren, Jay Braden and Kate Braden Stein (Kevin) of TX, Ty Ward (Ashley), Ace Ward (Kellie), Sunny Ward Ranieri (Ted), Laura Rankin Matyszewski (Sebastian) and Colby Rankin (Paige) of Colorado. Jean was a loving great grandmother of seven great grandchildren, with an eighth due in December. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sister and brother.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 13th at 10:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Larned, Kansas with Rev. Bethann Black presiding. Friends may sign the register 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. The graveside service will follow in Elmdale, Kansas at 4:00 p.m.

Memorials can be made to Camp Wood YMCA. 1101 Camp Wood Road, Elmdale, KS 66850. 620-273-8641 www.campwood.org or in care of Beckwith Mortuary. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.