Nixon Carl Ward

 Nixon (Nick) Carl Ward finally broke his earthly chains on May 15th, 2021 at 58 years of age, when his oversized heart finally gave out.  He always said he could not die because God wanted him to stay here and suffer, but now his suffering has ended.  Nick wanted everyone to remember him as he was in life and have a drink in his honor, so instead of a funeral, his family and friends will celebrate his life with a memorial party.  It will be held at his dad, Joe Carl Ward, and stepmother, Sue Laughter's house in Abilene, Texas on Saturday, June 12th.  Anyone wishing to join us as we say goodbye and give him a proper send off to the afterlife should arrive between 6:00 and 6:30 pm.

                Nick was born on March 13th, 1963, to Joe Carl Ward and Nancy Lee Scott Ward of Abilene, Texas.  He had two older sisters, Tammy and Gina Ward and two younger siblings, Sean Ward and Shay Finley. His mother died tragically when he was still a toddler, so his mother's twin sister, Anna Wilson, was like a mother to him as was his sweet and patient stepmother Pat Ward.  He grew up with his cousins and thought of them as siblings and often spoke of the summers he spent with his cousins and his grandparents, Nixon (who he was named after) and Jane Scott on their farm in Kentucky, riding horses and terrorizing his sisters.  He also fondly remembered his beloved grandmother Mimi and all she did for him, and his grandfather, Ken Mowdy, who taught him how to build houses and started him out in his career as a plumber.  He went to school in Abilene Texas, and one of his best memories of Cooper High School was that he played football in the Dallas Cowboys Stadium when his team went to state. 

                In 1991, Nick met his wife, Stephanie Anne Strickland Ward, in Roswell, New Mexico, and he told everyone he met that "he wasn't sure what planet she was from".  It must have been fate because she is from southern Illinois, and they were both only in Roswell, staying with family for a short time when they met.  After spending nearly every day together for three months, he asked her to marry him on Christmas Eve.  They had their son, Jason Schyler Ward, a year later and a daughter, Nancy Brianna Ward four years after that.  They had a good life and many adventures together, and they never missed an opportunity to dance together and enjoy each other’s company.  He was a loving, supportive, and faithful husband and father.  He loved spending time with and taking care of his children.  Jason was his best buddy, and Nancy was daddy's little girl.  He was also a father figure for many of his children's friends, especially D J Adams who he loved like a son, and his sister Gina's sons Steven Joe, Will, and Chance.

                He loved and cherished his family and friends more than anything else, and he would do anything he could for them.  He was always available when someone needed a friend and took pride in helping people.  Generous to a fault, he would give his last dime to a friend in need.  He loved hunting, fishing, and exploring new places.  He will be remembered by many as "the hardest working man they ever met" and took great pride in "working circles around everyone else".  "Everyone's favorite grumpy old man", he had no problem telling people what he thought of them and giving advice whether it was wanted or not.  He was quick with a joke, and he "always had a big smile behind that bushy mustache".  He was a great cook, and everyone will miss his BBQ and margaritas.

                 He will be joining his mother, Nancy Ward, sister, Tammy, all his grandparents, his little brother Sean, his stepmother Pat Ward, and his cousins Darin, Brett, Josh, and Shawn in the afterlife. 

                He will be missed by his wife and children; Stephanie Ward, Jason Ward, Nancy Ward, and D J Adams; his father and stepmother, Joe Ward and Sue Laughter; his sisters Gina Ward and Shay Finley; his Aunt Anna and Uncle Ralph; his cousins, Ted, Greg, Leigh Anna, and Quinn; and many other nieces, nephews, cousins, and all the other members of his family and his wife's family.