James Ward

Memorial services will be at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, December 22, 2012 at the First Baptist Church in Canyon with Rev. Gene Jones and Rev. Steve Olsen, officiating. James Frank Ward was bucked off, unexpectedly, for the final time and landed in heaven Wednesday morning December 19, 2012. Jim was born in Fort Worth on March 18,1931 and grew up in Austin. He studied at Oklahoma A&M, now Oklahoma State, where he earned a degree in Animal Husbandry and a commission as Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He later traveled far and wide as a rodeo cowboy and rodeo clown, eventually ending up in Oklahoma where he met his wife Jackie (Mahoney) Ward, whom he married in 1954. Jim held many jobs including foreman of the Muleshoe Ranch, county agent, state land appraiser and commercial artist. Jim finally settled down after completing a 6 month correspondence art course in a speedy 3 years and then began earning a living as a western painter and sculptor. He was one of the original founders of XIT, Ten in Texas Cowboy Artists Association. Jim was a great Dad to three children and grandpa to seven grandchildren . A strong Christian man, he served as a deacon and in countless other capacities at First Baptist Canyon, and forgetting only once to pick up a grandson from preschool. He served regardless if coffee and donuts were available. We will miss his snoring, his stories, and his sense of humor greatly. He was preceded in death by grandson Ben Henry. He survived by his wife Jackie of Canyon; brother, Bob Ward of Pensacola, Florida; children, Mary Beth Walker and husband Don, Gary Ward and wife Lisa, and Jimmy Ward and wife Beth; grandchildren Clay Henry, Becca Walker, Derek Ward, Matt Ward and wife Elizabeth, Ellie Ward and Seth Ward. In lieu of flowers the family asked that memorial donations be made to Palo Duro Cowboy Church of Canyon.