Mary Agnes Ward

Mary Agnes (Carr) Ward, a third generation Wilson County native, 93, died May 26, 2009 at Fredonia Regional Hospital. She was born July 12, 1915 in a little house located behind the Stone House in downtown Fredonia, Kansas. She was named after the doctor"s wife, and was the seventh child of Columbus and Maria Carr. In 1917, the Carr"s bought 4 " acres on the corner across from the County Club where Columbus, a carpenter, and his oldest son, Cecil, built the house where Mary grew up, and her parents lived for the remainder of their lives. As a child Mary attended Butts School, which was a little larger than a one room school house. Her father worked at the cement plant and her mother stayed home caring for the children. Mary was better known as MAC by all her friends. She was active in the Campfire Girls and she played fife in the Fife and Drum Corps. After graduating from high school she attended the Fredonia Business College for 2 " years. She worked in the old County Courthouse on the square, first for the Sheriff"s Office, then Register of Deeds, and thirdly, the Superintendent of Schools. Mary met Charley Ward when he played fiddle at a dance in Buxton. At that time he worked as a butcher & shopkeeper Miller"s Central Market on the town square, and saw Mary often. Mary and Charley married September 26, 1937 in Carthage, Missouri. The newlyweds first lived with Charley"s parents in Longton, Kansas a small town south of Fredonia. Charley, his brother-in-law, Ray Bagby and Charley"s father, Ches Ward, had a farm implement store there, and later a store in Buxton, Kansas. Before joining the Navy, Charley & Mary lived a short time in Bisbee, Arizona. After the war, they bought a farm 12 miles north of Fredonia. Besides being a busy farm wife, Mary worked as a secretary for the Fredonia Sale Barn for 18 years. She was also active in HDU. Mary was an excellent seamstress and talented in many arts and crafts. After her parents died, the family moved back into the Carr family home where they resided until Charley preceded her in death on Aug 11, 1996. For the last 13 years Mary resided at Madison Square and only recently moved to Vintage Park. Survivors include one son, Bruce Ward of Manhattan, Kansas one daughter, Jo Presbury-Smith of Vista, California three grandsons two great grandchildren Three sisters, Evelyn Walker, Ione Goodwin, Delores Luna, and five brothers, Cecil, Everett, Frank, Charles & George Carr preceded her in death. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 30, 2009 at the Fredonia City Cemetery with Rev. Gene Benefiel of the Buxton Christian Church officiating. The family will receive friends 6:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. on Friday at Timmons Funeral Home. A memorial has been established in Mary"s name with the Thanks Program Transportation Fund and may be sent to the funeral home. Words of condolence may be left on this website. Timmons Funeral Home, PO Box 168, Fredonia, KS, 66736, is in charge of the arrangements.