Carla J. Ward

Carla Jeaneen Ward was born in Pryor Creek, OK on July 29, 1959. This was the same small town in which our and many of our family members were born. Her grandmother Lodema raised her own family in Pryor, and remained in Pryor thereafter. Carla’s parents grew up in, or near, Pryor, and later married there. Together, they moved to New York where Carla’s father served in the US Army. Her father was soon scheduled to deploy to Germany so our mother, Margaret, came back home to Pryor to deliver their first baby. Many months later, Mom brought Carla to meet Dad in Germany.

After Dad left the military, and Carla’s brother Robert arrived, the growing family moved to Bellaire, Texas (a suburb of Houston) where Carla attended elementary school and junior high.

Just prior to Carla’s high school years, the family moved again to Hurst, TX. Carla attended LD Bell High School where she attempted to learn the bugle, bells, and clarinet. Finally, she decided the marching band was not for her. As a senior, Carla was thrilled to work at Dillards Department Store in the Junior’s department, where she spent all of her weekly paychecks. It was a symbiotic relationship.

After Carla graduated from high school, she briefly attended East Texas Baptist College which she referred to as East Texas Baptist Prison. It was a very conservative school and Carla chafed under rules that governed student dress, bed times, and other student behavior. Following many demerits, and setting the college president’s lawn on fire, Carla decided to attend a different college. At that time, our family was living in Tarzana California, so Carla selected a college out West: California State University Fullerton.

Carla always worked very hard. She supported herself with secretarial work and paid her own tuition. She secretly borrowed money from our grandmother Lodema, who swore Carla to secrecy. Carla paid grandma back, but kept Lodema’s secret until well after Lodema’s death. Through perseverance, Carla achieved a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and a number of financial certifications.

Carla was outgoing, fearless around strangers, opinionated, and forceful. These traits made her a perfect fit for sales. She sold computerized typewriters (the precursor to word processors), insurance, and ultimately financial investment products.

She wore red framed glasses, which were simply clear glass, because they made her look smarter. She kept her nails professionally polished so she could point-out exactly where the customer should sign the contract. And, under somewhat shady circumstances, she acquired a copy of the Orange County Registry of Medical Doctors. She used this registry to call upon many of the wealthiest doctors in America. She created the “Ward Financial Group” and flourished. She bought a house in Corona Del Mar spending more than anyone in our family thought wise. Since then, the house has tripled in value.

Carla attended a Christian study called “Women in the Marketplace” at the Mariner’s Church in SoCal and hosted a recurring bible study in her home. Later, she attended Lighthouse Baptist here in Monterey. She loved the Lord and gave generously to His causes. She actively supported a single mom to financially support, and raise, a foster daughter. Her walk with God was jerky, but she was grounded in her dependence upon Jesus as her Savior.

While in Corona del Mar, she met and married Bill Robertson. He was masculine, fun-loving, and loved to dance…just the man Carla had been looking for. Carla had a stunning wedding, but as time passed, their relationship proved rocky. Finally, they divorced. Bill kept the big truck; Carla kept the big dogs.

Later Carla met a colleague at a financial conference: Craig McDaniel. They too had a whirlwind relationship resulting in marriage. They lived in a beautiful lake front home in South Carolina. The local geese, however, would soil Carla’s patio. Taking the situation in hand, she purchased a small gauge pellet rifle, and “encouraged” the geese to go elsewhere. Incidentally, Carla was an excellent marksman.

After her second divorce, Carla returned home to Corona Del Mar. This began a long and difficult decade in Carla’s life. She noticed that after client meetings, should could not recall what products the client purchased, or what recommendations she had made. It became clear, sadly, she could not continue in her profession.

In typical Carla fashion, she forthrightly notified her clients of her condition and resigned from her business. She hoped a peaceful retirement would focus her mind. As Carla’s condition worsened, however, it became clear she needed help. She was incapable of living alone. Carla moved into a care-facility in to Monterey in July 2020.

The last 6 years of her life were filled with difficult transitions. She was physically safe, but forfeited the independence she prized. Her surroundings were lovely, but she missed her own home by the ocean. She lacked for nothing, but wanted her old life. During these years, God gave Carla three especially committed care-givers: Gina Puccinelli, Chayo Ruvalcaba, and Leslie Kirshaw. These ladies took Carla to dancing lessons, horseback riding sessions, ceramics classes, movies, restaurants, and picnics on the beach. They loved Carla like a sister and brought joy to her final years. They were all present, holding her hands, at the moment of Carla’s passing. Our family is profoundly grateful to them.

In the last 18 months of Carla’s life, she experienced several falls, the last of which, broke her leg. The corrective surgery was successful, but Carla never walked again and became bed-ridden. When she stopped eating and drinking, we knew the end was near.

The Lord took Carla home on Monday afternoon, 2 March 2026, at 2:00pm.

She was preceded in death by her beloved mother Margaret. Carla is survived by her father Fenton, her younger brothers Robert and Chris, sisters-in-law Jeannie and Maria, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at The Park Lane Senior Living Community, Vista Lounge - 7th floor, 200 Glenwood Circle, Monterey, CA 93940, on March 21, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, with parking available in Garage with access to the elevator directly to the 7th Floor.