Bill Ward

A memorial service for Bill Ward, of Hideaway Lake, will be held on Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 10:30 AM in the chapel at Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mr. Ward went to join his Heavenly Father on May 24, 2009 after a long courageous battle with cancer. His perseverance and positive attitude during this journey was an inspiration to everyone who knew and loved him. Preceding him in death were his parents Arthur and Helen Ward. Mr. Ward was born in Memphis, TN in October 1946. At the age of 14 he was one of two young boys sponsored by Wells Station Baptist church in Memphis to earn the Eagle Scout Designation. He completed high school at Kingsbury in Memphis and then entered the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, TN where he graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering. After college he worked with several engineering and consulting companies prior to being hired as Traffic Engineer for the city of Tyler in 1976. Through the years he was responsible for various departments within the city. When he retired in January 2009 after 33 years of service he was serving as the city’s Project Engineer. He loved Tyler and will not only be remembered for his dedication and loyalty to the city but for his precious smile and loving nature as well. In 1993, after an absence of 30 years, he reunited with the love of his life, Jeannie, and they were married in 1997. He not only became a husband for the first time but a Dad and Grandfather as well. They made their home at Hideaway Lake and enjoyed cruising and playing golf with their daughter Jena and dear friends Billy Ray and Kathy Davis. Mr. Ward is survived by his wife Jeannie; his beloved daughter Jena Guill of Longview; son James Seegers and wife Tammy of Maude; grandsons Brandon Guill and wife Erica of Carthage, Eric and Brent Seegers of Beckville; granddaughter Ashley Guill of Tatum; brother-in-law Jim Williams and wife of Greenville, SC; sister-in-law, Bonnie Rabon of Columbia, SC; Aunt and Uncle, Elliott and Jean Ward of Alabaster AL; Aunt, Pauline Ward of Starksville, MS and numerous cousins. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jim Bearden, Bob Turner, H.V. Bryan, B.A. King, Davis Dixon, Syd Ivy, Leo Brittan, Irby Bearden and Johnny Purdue. Visitation is scheduled from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at Stewart Family Funeral Home 7525 Old Jacksonville Hwy, Tyler, Texas 75703. Memorials in honor of Bill Ward may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718; Samaritan Counseling Center, 1525 Stephens Ave, Shreveport, LA 71101 or the Hospice of East Texas Foundation, 4111 University Blvd, Tyler, Texas 75701. For more information or to express condolences, visit www.stewartfamilyfuneral.com.

Bill Ward

October 12, 1946 - May 24, 2009