Hoxie – Marie Elizabeth Harbison Ward, 90, of Hoxie, passed away Friday, December 23, 2016 at Walnut Ridge Nursing and Rehab Center in Walnut Ridge.  She was born on February 1, 1926 in Strawberry, Arkansas to Elmer and Leona Smith Harbison.  On January 17, 1941, she married William Augusta "Pete" Ward.  She was of the Pentecostal belief and a member of Bells Chapel Assembly of God Church.

As a young girl, she played high school basketball.  She loved watching St. Louis Cardinal baseball games and Arkansas Razorback men's basketball games.  She also loved decorating for the holidays, collecting dolls, and playing Yahtzee with her family on Saturday nights.   She was a member of   "The Gospel Five" singing group, and loved gospel music.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William "Pete" Ward; daughters, Anna Marie "Donna" Watkins and infant daughter, Linda Ward; grand-daughters, Christie Munn and Natasha Fain; brothers, Lehman Harbison, Hubert "Jack" Harbison, Thurman "Ted" Harbison; sisters, Molly Alls, and Geraldine Collins Dawson.

Survivors include sons, Jack Ward (Tina), Terry Ward (Barb) of Walnut Ridge; Jerry Ward (Rebecca) of Hoxie; daughters, Tommie Pierce, Gail Coleman, Robin Munn, and Jeanette Fain (Curt) of Walnut Ridge, Judy Holder (Dennis) of Hoxie; twenty- one grandchildren; forty- one great grandchildren, and fifteen great-great grandchildren.

Visitation for Mrs. Ward will be Tuesday, December 27, 2016 from 6 pm – 8 pm at Cox Funeral Home in Walnut Ridge.  Funeral will be Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at 10 am at Cox Funeral Home in Walnut Ridge with Rick Hart officiating.  Burial will follow at Lincoln Ward cemetery in Saffell under the direction of Cox Funeral Home in Walnut Ridge.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are grandsons Dewayne Pierce, Aaron Coleman, Ronnie Coats, Tony Coats, Greg Coats, Curtis Fain II, Andrew Fain, Anthony Meeker, and Terrence Ward.

Honorary pallbearers will be grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Online registry: www.coxfhwalnutridge.com