Sue Margaret Ward (Tulia)

Sue Margaret Ward, previously of Tulia, Texas, passed away on Christmas morning at the age of 101. She was born July 17, 1923, in Crosby County, Texas near Cone, to Elmer Lawson Gardner and Mary Etta (Douglas) Gardner, both native Texans. The family moved to Rock Creek in Briscoe County where Sue attended elementary and junior high. She graduated from Silverton High School in 1940. Some time after graduation, Sue went to Washington, D.C. for 18 months where she worked in a steno pool for the U.S. Government. She returned to the Panhandle and eventually worked at Montgomery Ward in Plainview where she met Warner Wallace Ward in January of 1944.

 Warner worked the soda counter at Camp’s Pharmacy where Sue went twice a day for sodas. The couple married on July 28th of that same year. Warner was inducted into the Army in November, 1944, where he served until February of 1946. Sue was a Tulia resident for approximately 69 years.

 During that time she worked at the ASCS Office for over 20 years. She then helped out at Graham & Brown Accounting during tax season and later joined Warner in running the pro shop concession at the Tulia Golf Course after Warner sold the Dr Pepper Bottling Company.

 Sue was preceded in death by her husband, Warner; her oldest son, Jack Lawson Ward; a grandson, Brian Dean; two great grandchildren; Jaylen Rylie Ward and Taylor James Dean; her parents, and eight siblings (five brothers and three sisters). 

She is survived by three children; James Ward (Helen) of Roswell, NM; Danny Ward (Carol) of Tulia, TX and Celinda (aka Cindi) Hanna (Richard) of Las Vegas, NV. Sue leaves behind eight grandsons; Eric Dean (Britta) of Waynesville, KS; Ja Ward (Raneta) of Corpus Christi, TX; Jerel Ward of Corpus Christi, TX; Danny Ward (Amy) of Nacagdoches, TX; Jarrod Dean (Victoria) of Ocean Shores, WA; Murray Ward (Chad) of St. Louis, MO; and Slade Dean (Melissa) of The Colony, TX. She also leaves behind six granddaughters; Shan Ward of Odessa, TX; Lana Litchfield (Randy) of Piedmont, SC; J.J. Cadd (David) of Slaton, TX; Samantha Ward of Roswell, NM; Ashley Dean of Las Vegas, NV; and Mary Rogers (Seth) of Roswell, NM. In addition, Sue is survived by a number of great and great great grandchildren, too many to name individually, although Sue loved them all equally and they always put a smile on her face. Two of her great grandchildren grew up in Tulia and Sue doted on them and took great pride in attending their school events and providing extra love and support to Chaz Ward (Crystin) of Lubbock, TX and Courtney Ward (Jenn) of Amarillo, TX. She is further survived by a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who were all dear to her. 

Services for Sue will be held on January 31, 2025, at 10:30am at the Tulia Methodist Church where Sue was a life-long member. A graveside service will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Sue will be laid to rest next to Warner, her husband of 49 years. 

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the Tulia Methodist Church.