Marilyn Joann Ward, 68, of Elizabethton, went to be with her Lord, whom she loved with all her heart and soul, on Thursday, December 1, 2016, at Cornerstone Village, Johnson City, following an extended illness.
A native of Carter County, she was a daughter of the late John and Effie Holtsclaw Chambers.
Marilyn was a homemaker. She was a member of Valley Forge House of Prayer for almost 40 years.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her little sister, Claudia, and a brother, D.L. Chambers.
Survivors include her husband of 47 years, Gary W. Ward; two daughters, Kimberly Dawn Ward Johnson, Johnson City, and Tanya Lynn Ward Buckles, Elizabethton; four grandchildren, Joshua Wayne Ward, Zackery Lynn Buckles, Ridge Lacross Buckles and Ryan Lacross Buckles; two brothers, Robert Chambers and John R. Chambers Jr.; one sister, Pauline Birchfield; several nieces and nephews; and two special friends who she thought of as daughters, Kim Davis and Rhonda Sluder.
Funeral services for Marilyn Joann Ward will be conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 6, at Valley Forge House of Prayer with Pastor Allen Simerly and Pastor Darrell Bailey officiating. Music will be provided by Roger and JoAnn Odom and Wilhemmina Turner. Graveside services and interment will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, December 7, at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Valley Forge House of Prayer. The family would like to express a special “Thank You” to the staff of Cornerstone Village. To those who prefer, memorials may be made in memory of Marilyn to the Carter County Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 134, Elizabethton, TN 37644. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 10:20 a.m. Wednesday to go to the cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website: www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Ward family.