Opal Overton Ward

Opal Overton Ward, 85, of Gibson, Mo., died Wednesday, Jan 5, 2005, at St. Joseph Medical Center in St. Charles, Mo.

Born April 16, 1919, in Parkin to the late Carter and Daisy Overton, she was a medical technician at St. Francis Nursing Home and a member of South Canaan General Baptist Church.

She also was preceded in death by her husband, E.G. Ward; one son, Robert John Ward, and one great-grandson, Brandon Ward.

Survivors include seven sons, Jimmy D. Ward of St. Louis, Virl Dail Carter of Cheyenne, Wyo., Larry Carter of Rawlins, Wyo., Carl Ward of Fairview Heights, Ill., James Curly Ward of Kennett, Mo., Thurmon Dude Ward of Mammoth Spring and Harold Ward of Glennonville, Mo.; four daughters, Regene Fitzgerald of Texarkana, Nyoda Carter of Cheyenne, Wyo., Sharon Webb of St. Charles, Mo., and Jan Belcher of Holcomb, Mo.; 41 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 10, at Mitchell Funeral Home Chapel in Rector with Harold Carter officiating. Burial was in Mitchell Cemetery at Greenway with Mitchell Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers were David Belcher, Jason Belcher, Jeff Ward, Matthew Ward, Michael Paul Ward and Kyle Webb.

Honorary pallbearers were David Ward, Hayden Nichols, Cameron Carter, Steve Crawford, David Yost and Chad Nixon.