Grady Ward

Grady Darrell Ward, 74, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, November 6, 2009, at his home in Canton, surrounded by his close family and friends. A native of Transylvania County, he was a son of the late Emmett Lee and Ola Bayne Ward. He was preceded in death by a son, Donald Gary Ward; three brothers, Melvin, Milford, and Larry Ward; and four sisters, Nina Raxter, Charlotte Englert, Janie Priest, and Helen Shelton. Mr. Ward was a dearly loved member of Beaverdam Baptist Church where he served as head Sunday School teacher for the Senior Men's class. He was a dedicated witness for his Lord and Saviour to anyone he met. A retired pipefitter foreman, Mr. Ward worked for many power companies, including Duke Power, Flour-Daniel, BE&K, and Allis-Chalmers. He served for eight years as a field medic for the General Patton Armor Division of the United States Army. He was a Golden Glove boxer while stationed in Germany. Mr. Ward was an avid Pisgah Bear football fan. When he could no longer attend Friday night games, he began listening to the WPTL radio broadcast each week. He is survived by his loving wife, Evelyn Huffman Ward; three sons, Darrell and his wife LeJean of Penrose, Mark and his wife Laura of Penrose, and Chris and his wife Barbara of Etowah; four daughters, Sandy and her husband Moe Jones of Edneyville, Brooke and her husband Casey Mabry of Marion, Misty Ward of Clyde, and Amber and Billy Call of Waynesville; one brother, Bobby Ward of Turkey Pen; four sisters, Walterene Wilson of Brevard, Mildred Corn of Hendersonville, Pat Childs of Travelers Rest, SC, and Jenny Ward of Fletcher; seventeen grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family of Mr. Ward would like to thank Hospice of Haywood County and Dr. Harry Lipham and his staff of Mountain Medical Associates. The family also extends a special thank you to Janette Messer, home health caregiver, and Craig Summers, music therapist, for their years of dedicated service to Mr. Ward and his family. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, November 9, 2009, at Beaverdam Baptist Church with the Reverend Gene Worley and Reverend Jimmy Trantham officiating. Burial will follow at Beaverdam Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. Sunday at Wells Funeral Home of Canton. Memorials may be made to Haywood Regional Medical Center Hospice, 560 Leroy George Drive, Clyde, NC 28721.

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