Blanche Ellen Ward, 97, daughter of John and Lucinda Smith Kimrey, was born Nov. 30, 1906, at Ellsworth. She died May 25, 2004, at Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston. She married William Walter Ward April 6, 1925, at Ellis Prairie. They had three children. Mrs. Ward had been a member of the First Baptist Church in Licking since March 1941. She served for 33 years caring for the children in the church nursery department. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband; three brothers, Herbert Kimrey, Cecil Kimrey and Roy Kimrey; and two sisters, Nora White and Mae Benson. Surviving are her children, Pansy Bingaman and Roy Ward of Springfield and Kay Cobb of Louisburg, Kan.; seven grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Services were May 28 at the Fox Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Robert Gifford and Dr. Wilbur Mobley officiating. Burial was in the Cavaness Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church in Licking nursery department. “
