Martha Marie Ward

Our Mom and Granny passed peacefully into Heaven on March 6, 2012 at home surrounded by her family, prayers, hugs and tears with Faith, Love, Peace, Joy and Humor, after a very full tireless life and a spirit of keeping on keeping on. Mom never gave up, with life's trials and tribulations or with sickness or ill health until God called mom to Heaven. Mom was born in Oklahoma, March 28, 1936 to loving parents Irene and Albert Watts. Her family was part of the "hardworking Okies" that came from Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl Era. Making their home in Bakersfield, living in the tent and adobe housing in Weedpatch, south of Bakersfield. Mom attended Sunset Elementary School, (Weedpatch Elementary as known back in 1940's) and then graduated from Arvin High School in 1953. Momma married her loving and best friend for life, our daddy, Odie Ward, on her 17th birthday in 1953, and thus began their life of almost 50 years, living in the one and only "home" they owned, same address and same phone number for 55 years enjoying their two children, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Mom worked at Greenacres Elementary School for 2 years, then settled into being the greatest and best wife, mother and "granny" a person could hope to be. Mom returned to work outside of the home working for McKee Electric Company as Business Office Manager for 30 years. Mom loved people and was a volunteer within Standard School District whenever asked, serving as home room mom, carpool, PTA Treasure and helping whenever asked. She was involved in Girl Scouts, with her daughter, for 8 years, serving as Scout Leader and Neighborhood Chairman over all of the North of the River Girl Scout troops. Mom's passion was being the biggest fan of her son, Terry, whatever sport or activity he played; mostly momma was daddy's scorekeeper when daddy coached Terry's baseball summer league teams for many years. Mom loved to be involved in everything her children and grandchildren did. Mom also loved gardening, sewing, quilting, puzzles and always was passionate about reading. After retiring from McKee Electric, mom kept herself very busy with the grandkids, researching genealogy for both sides of the family, teaching herself computer skills along the way, AND, Mom could fix anything that was broken. Mom never met a stranger, had lots of spirit, spunk and a big heart. We had a lot of humor in our family and mom took daddy's teasing with many memories of good times and great laughs. Mom is survived on earth by her daughter, Michelle and husband Larry Milton; son Terry and wife Diane Ward; grandchildren, Auzie Ward, Katy Spencer, Charlie and wife Destiny Spencer; great-grandchildren, Alex and Lily May Spencer and Devin Milton; sister-in-laws, who were more like sisters, Gussie Stone, Lucille Jones, and Dolly Ward; many cousins, nieces and nephews. Mom is predeceased by her husband, Odie Ward; beloved grandson, Keith Ward her parents and brother, Al Watts. God looked around His garden And he found an empty place. He then looked down upon this Earth, and saw you're your tired face. He put his arms around you and lifted you to rest. God's garden must be beautiful, He always takes the best. He knew that you were suffering, He knew you were in pain. He knew that you would never Get well on earth again. He saw the road was getting rough And the hills were hard to climb So He closed your weary eyelids, and whispered, "Peace be thine." It broke our hearts to lose you but you didn't go alone, For part of us went with you the day God called you home. A celebration of mom's life will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park Bakersfield, California on Saturday March 10, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. chapel and graveside service. Chaplain Wayne Meade of Hoffmann Hospice will be officiating. The family request that in lieu of flowers, to please donate in Mom's name to Hoffmann Hospice, Veterans Services or the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter and Mission. Hillcrest Memorial Park & Mortuary.