Lucy B Leslie Ward

Obituary - COLWICH - Ward, Lucy, 85, retired secretary and office manager, passed away Thursday, February 21, 2013. Memorial service, 11:00 A.M., Saturday, March 9, 2013, First Presbyterian Church, Pratt, KS. Preceded by parents, Nathan and Elsie (Schletzbaum) Leslie; siblings, Mary, Dora, Ruth, Edna, John and Jack. Survivors: husband, Robert E.; daughters, Debbie Musgrave (Bill) of Carbondale, KS, Deanna Milleville (Tim) of Wichita; son, Bryan Ward (Crystal) of Colwich; brother, Frank Leslie (Shirley) of Lawrence; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild. Memorial to Pratt Humane Society, 10233 Bluestem Blvd., Pratt, KS 67214. Downing & Lahey West.

 

Lucy (Leslie) Ward was born on June 2, 1927 to John Nathan and Elsie (Schletzbaum) Leslie.  They were farmers near the town of Goff, Kansas.  Lucy had four older sisters, Mary, Dora, Ruth and Edna and an older brother, John.  Frank was born after Lucy and a brother Jack was lost as an infant.  She loved growing up on the farm and often spoke of the cats, dogs and horses they had.  One cat in particular would sit on the fence and jump on Mom’s shoulder when she was going down to the milk house.  She said the thirties weren’t as hard on her family because they had a farm and always had enough to eat, but her father had to sell his cattle he’d been breeding due to lack of water.  John (her father) died when Lucy was young and her brother John died when he was only 13.  These losses were very hard on the family, but the family remained close throughout their lives.

Lucy went to a one-room school for the first years of school and was taught by several of her sisters.  She graduated from Goff High School and moved to Topeka to go to business school.  She met her future husband, Robert Ward, while attending business school.  They married on April 19, 1947 and both worked in Topeka, Kansas.  They traveled and made friends and 5 years later had their first daughter, Debbie.  Three months later Bob was offered a position with the Kansas State Fish and Game Commission and they moved to Pratt, Kansas.

They moved to one of the houses at the Fish Hatchery shortly after moving to Pratt.  Lucy loved animals, so there was always a dog or two and various cats.  After several miscarriages, a second daughter, Deanna, was born and a few years later, a son Bryan.  Lucy encouraged her children to do well in school and also encouraged sports and activities outside of school.  She loved music and all three children had the opportunities to learn to play the piano.  She belonged to several organizations:  Pratt Garden Club, Mothers Club and was a 4-H Club leader.  Both Lucy and Bob loved to bowl, both together and in men’s and women’s leagues.  Lucy’s women’s team went to the state tournament several years in a row.   After Bryan started school Bob and Lucy bought a home on West River Road.  It was still country living, but with fairly close neighbors.  It was a wonderful place with lots of room to play with the neighborhood children, raise animals (horses, dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, box turtles, and even snakes) and produce wonderful flowers and vegetables in the garden.  They also enjoyed many special family times hunting, fishing, boating and camping. Once the grandchildren came, they also enjoyed staying with Grandma and Grandpa, and loved to help with mowing, taking care of the horses and learning how to garden.  Lucy also took up painting and started teaching her grandchildren how to paint.

When her children were in school Lucy started working again first as the Presbyterian Church secretary, then at the South Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative and later as the office manager for an accounting business she and Bob owned.  The Presbyterian Church was a big part of our lives.  Sunday school and church were a regular part of Sundays and many friends were made through the church.  Bob was the financial secretary and elder at the church and Lucy was the secretary/clerk for many years. 

Lucy had surgery for a pacemaker and was prescribed a drug which damaged her lungs.  As a result, Lucy and Bob moved to Colwich to be closer to their children.  In spite of poor health, she attended sporting and school events and thoroughly enjoyed being closer to family and especially her grandchildren.   For the past 8 years, Lucy and Bob have lived in Colwich and have become a part of the Colwich community although they have maintained their ties with the Pratt community.  Lucy was loved by many, but especially her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Lucy, Mom and Grandma – we miss you!!