Gary Ward

Gary Lee Ward, 78, of Cape Girardeau passed away Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at his home.

Gary was born Nov. 2, 1944, just outside the small town of Risco, Missouri. His parents, A.B. and Irene Lancaster Ward, were cotton farmers. Unlike most kids his age, Gary loved picking cotton. By the age of 9, Gary picked 200 pounds of cotton in one day. By the age of 12, he picked his first 300 pounds in one day! He was very proud of that. Most grownups at that time picked a maximum of 150 pounds in one day.

Gary graduated from Risco High School in 1962. He attended and graduated from Arkansas State University in 1967 with a bachelor's degree in Radio/TV Journalism. While attending Arkansas State, he served as student station manager of KASU radio. He was also a columnist for the college newspaper, the Arkansas State Herald.

In 1967, Gary joined the U.S. Navy. There he served as the co-editor of the Jax Air News, the base newspaper at the Jacksonville, Florida, Naval Air Station. He also served at the Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia, as speech writer for the commander of the Atlantic Fleet Naval Air Force.

On May 31, 1974, Gary married Linda Thurston. In 1977, they moved to Bloomington, Illinois, where Gary took a job as a broadcaster and writer for Illinois Farm Bureau. Linda took a job there in financial reporting.

In 1985, Gary and Linda moved to the Southwest Missouri Ozarks near Bolivar, Missouri. Gary had retired, but worked to help make their 30 acres of woodland into a parklike area. He also wrote and had published two mystery novels, "Two from Tennessee" and "Renegade Re". Linda continued to work in Springfield, Missouri. She was an actuary and vice president at American National Property and Casualty Insurance.

Gary and Linda traveled extensively through Europe and took several cruises. Gary often said he lived a charmed and wonderful life, especially after meeting and marrying Linda! This is where Linda gets to add a few words: "What a great adventure it has been with Gary, my one and only love. I knew I could always count on him for anything. He was the real deal — genuine, caring and funny. I couldn't have chosen a better life partner."

In May 2021, Gary and Linda moved to Chateau Girardeau, a retirement community in Cape Girardeau. Gary and Linda made many wonderful friends at Chateau.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Ward of Cape Girardeau; sister and brother-in-law, Kaye and Larry Richardson; nephews, Adam Richardson and Cullen Richardson; and grandnephews and -nieces, Sawyer, Aubrey, Isla, Gisele and Ivo Richardson; and Linda's siblings, Barbara (Terry) Gilliam, Jerry (Debbie) Thurston, Darrell (Linda) Thurston, Benny (Phyllis) Thurston and Bonnie Willis.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Aug. 31, at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Graveside rites will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, at Rose Hill Cemetery in Pulaski, Illinois, with the Rev. Gene Lancaster officiating.

Memorial contributions may be given to Southeast Missouri Pets, 180 Weston St., Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, or a charity of choice.

Online condolences may be sent at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.