Arlene Mae Ward

Arlene Mae Ward, age 88, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Saturday, February 9, 2013, at Mercy Hospital. She was born September 14, 1924, in Eudora, Kan., the daughter of Raymond Eugene Bagby and Florence Marguerite Ziegler Bagby. Arlene married Lawrence Ward on November 1, 1942, in Topeka, Kan. He preceded her in death on March 21, 2008. Arlene and Lawrence were baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses on September 11, 1938. The couple attended the Gilead Missionary School in 1959, and later traveled throughout the United States doing missionary work.

Survivors include a sister, Charlotte Jean Shockey, of Olathe, Kan., and a sister-in-law, Lucy Lowe, of Fort Scott. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews including Linda Groninger of Lawrence, Kan. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers.

Eugene Smerchek will conduct funeral services at 1 p.m. Thursday, February 15th at the Cheney Witt Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery. Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.