Dorothy Ann Ward

Dorothy Ann Ward, 87, passed away peacefully on August 16, 2024, surrounded by her family. Dorothy’s “career” was always wife and mother first. When her children were young, she delighted in being a room mother at school and volunteered as a Brownie troop leader. She also became a certified EMT and served on the Grayville Ambulance Service for many years. Later, she worked at Best Western as the breakfast hostess.

She met her husband, Bob, when she was working at his aunt’s restaurant, Flossie Mae’s. That was the beginning of a partnership that lasted over 66 years. When they married, she allegedly could only make meatloaf. Bob’s mother taught her the necessities of being a farmer’s wife. She learned to cook and bake, raise chickens, grow a garden and can vegetables. She was known for her hot rolls, cinnamon rolls, pies, and Christmas candy.

She would start making Christmas candy in November and not stop until New Year’s. The dining room table would be filled with candy, and anyone who stopped by could get a plate full to take home. In later years, she would only make candy the week before Christmas, much to Bob’s dismay. He always said that Christmas was a season, not a single day.

It was known that you could get a good meal if you showed up at lunchtime, and many a person took advantage of that. She would feed mechanics, farm hands, seed and feed salesmen, and anyone else who had good timing. When her grandkids were in high school, she would prepare lunch for them and their friends weekly. But family dinners were her specialty. She enjoyed having the whole family gather around the dining room table for a meal.

Dorothy and Bob were always together. She was his partner and later became his caregiver. She was steadfast in her devotion to Bob-the wind beneath his wings. She was the epitome of a farmer’s wife.

“And on the 9th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, “That farmer needs help.” So, God made a farmer’s wife…

“I need somebody with arms strong enough to carry a basket of wet coveralls up the basement stairs and out to the clothesline and yet gentle enough to rock a newborn baby. Somebody to run for parts, help in the fields, move trucks, deliver meals, look the farmer in the eyes and tell him ‘I love you and the life we’ve built’ – and mean it.” So, God made a farmer’s wife…”

She was born on March 20, 1937 to Joseph and Ella Walker Onyett. She is survived by 3 children: Gary (Linda) Ward, Debbie (John) Gray, and Jean (Dan) Dick; 3 grandchildren: Jake (Jennifer) Ward, Jessica (Kyle) Roosevelt, and Daniel (Stephanie) Gray; 4 great-grandchildren: Kylee, Zeke, and Bowen Roosevelt, and Jack Robert Ward; and sister Emma Lou (Delbert) Norman. She was preceded in death by her husband Bob, parents, brothers Robert, Joe, and Charles, sister Jo Ann, and grandson Joshua Gray.

Visitation and funeral service are Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Cook Funeral Chapel in Grayville. Visitation is from noon until 2pm with funeral at 2:00 pm. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Grayville, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests only the gift of your love and support. Please give to the charity of your choice, if desired.

Cook Funeral Chapel in Grayville, Illinois is in charge of arrangements.