Blackie Ward's Obituary
Bertha Pauline “Blackie” Ward, daughter of Heston Perry and Mary Emily McGuire Cullen, was born June 1, 1924 in Mountain Grove, Missouri. She departed this life Sunday, January 27, 2008 in her home in Camdenton, Missouri at the age of eighty-three years, seven months and twenty-six days. On March 3, 1944 in Kansas City, Kansas, she was united in marriage to Clyde Richard Ward and to this union two children were born. Together they shared forty-nine years until his passing on August 17, 1993. She was also preceded in death by her parents and her sister and brother-in-law, Abigail and Lester Denny. Survivors include her children, Tom Ward and Susan Logan and her husband, Lanny, all of Camdenton, Missouri; two grandchildren, Jennifer Pacheco and her husband, Joseph, of Kansas City, Kansas, and Pat Cochran and his wife, Angela, of Camdenton, Missouri; two great-grandchildren, Shawn Patrick Cochran, of Camdenton, and Lacey Pacheco, of Springfield; a niece and nephew, Randy Denny and his wife, Sandy, and Sandy Shivers and her husband, Randy, all of Camdenton; and many great-nieces and nephews, other relatives and a host of friends. Blackie was a third-generation resident of Camden County, Missouri. After finishing school, she worked as a waitress and went to California during World War II where she worked in an airplane factory as a welder. After returning to Camdenton, she met and married Clyde. Their family lived in various places throughout the country, while Clyde worked as a government contractor. Her roots eventually led them back to her home of Camdenton. In 1974, they purchased Paintin’ Place, which they owned for many years. She had strong political views and was a proud member of the Democratic Party. In her spare time she was a Thoroughbred horse racing enthusiast. She had a “gift of gab” and never met a stranger. She loved spending time visiting with both family and friends. Most of all, she enjoyed family gatherings and the fun times they had together. Blackie was a loving mother, grandmother, and aunt and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and many accomplishments and will treasure the memories she created forever. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 31, 2008, in the Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home, Camdenton. Burial will be in the Decaturville Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday evening from 5 - 7:00 p.m. under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Camdenton, Missouri. Memorials to the Decaturville Cemetery may be made through the funeral home.
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