Nancy Louise (McDowell) Ward

Funeral services for Nancy Ward, 84, of Elida, will be held at 10:00 AM, Thurs., Mar. 26, 2026 at the First Baptist Church of Elida with Rev. Herb Gage officiating, assisted by Rev. Cheston Fair.  Burial will follow in the Kenna Cemetery with Jesse Ward, Logan McLain, Orrin McLlain, Lindsey Ward, Ethan McLain, John Croy and Cody White serving as pallbearers.  Gene Creighton, Skip Wilson, Brett Hamilton, Coy Wilson, Kim Howard, Malin Parker and Duward Dixon have been named as honorary pallbearers.  The family will receive guests at the funeral home on Wed. evening from 6 to 8 PM.

Nancy Louise Ward was born Dec. 5, 1941 in Elida to the home of Dorothy Elizabeth (Good) and Claude Lindsey McDowell and passed from this life on the evening of Mar. 22, 2026 in Clovis, NM.  Nancy was a 1959 graduate of Elida High School.  In 1968 she started teaching Kindergarten in the Elida School.  She went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Eastern New Mexico University in 1974, and completed a Master’s Degree in 1978.  After completing her Bachelor’s Degree she began teaching First Grade, and continued for 29 years, retiring in 2003.  Following her retirement, Nancy continued to substitute teach and drove a school bus.

Nancy was a member of the Elida Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School, and GA’s.  In 1990, she was elected to the town council, and served in that capacity until 2005.  She was elected to the position of Mayor in 2005 and served until 2006.  She enjoyed playing dominos and various card games, especially “Cutthroat Pitch.”

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jimmy Dale and Patsy Ward of Elida; her daughter and son-in-law, Julie and James McLain of Spring Lake, TX; five grandchildren, Jesse (Michelle) Ward and Lindsey (Cody) White, and Logan (Beth), Orrin (Darcy) and Ethan McLain; and nine great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by both of her parents.

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