Leola Ruth Ward

Lee was born in Yuma, Colorado on July 21, 1936.

Lee grew up in Yuma with her parents Effie and William Headley and her brothers and sisters, Dean, Ray, William "Bill", Dwayne, Lenora, and Connie.

Lee was the youngest and was reminded that every day.

They didn't have very much money because her dad had epilepsy and people were afraid to hire him in case he had a seizure and fell and hurt himself they didn't want that responsibility. Lee's Mom would do odd jobs to make money,

hanging wallpaper, iron clothes, clean people's houses and Lee would help as much as she could. Lee's Mom sent her to her brother and wife's house in California to help them with the children. She stayed for a year and went to school at Red Bluff High School in 1952.

Lee went back home; her parents had moved to Denver so her dad could get help with his epilepsy. Lee's mom got a job at Colorado General Hospital as a cook, and her dad got hired on at the Roosevelt Hotel, she also got a job at the hotel running the elevators. After a while she went to the hospital and got a job delivering food trays to the patients, she did that job her junior and senior year of High School. Lee graduated from East High School in 1954.

Lee loved roller skating and she went every weekend. While walking home one day down Colfax Ave she met the love of her life Don Ward "meet-cute" and started a relationship and 3 months later they were married on July 21, 1955, on her 19th birthday and they lived happily ever after.

Lee and Don had 3 children: Don Jr, Debbie in 1956 and Scott in 1963.

Lee got a job at Mountain Bell where she worked several different job titles.

She retired after 32 years.

Lee and Don loved to travel, they visited many states. Lee's favorite trip was taking the train to Washington State. They loved going to Las Vegas, Lee's favorite game was video Porker. When gambling came to Colorado that was it. They loved going " up the hill" or as they would say " going to work".

Lee's favorite color was red her favorite actor was John Wayne; her favorite movies were The Seachers and The Way We Were.

Lee is survived by her children: Don Ward (Dianne), Debbie Pugh (John), Scott Ward (Brenda).

Lee's Grandchildren: Jacob (Laura), Ashley (Jeremy), Chad, Lindsey, Amber (Slava), Daniel, Shannah (Carson), Eric (Anais), Krista.

Lee's Great Grandchildren: Breckyn, Talon, Oakland, Jaxson, Justin, Gage, Dakota, Ryker, Jayce, Blayke, Sylas, Lilly, Oliver, Elliott, Izzy, Viktor.

Lee was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years Don Ward (2020)

Her parents William Thomas Headley, Effie Leola Headley.

Her brothers and sister's: Dean Leland, Lenora Ann, Ray Leroy, William "Bill" Thomas, Dwayne Dane, and Connie Nettle.

Services will be at Olinger Hampden Mortuary & Cemetery from 10:30am to 12:30pm. Burial will be at Fairmount Cemetery following the Services.