ST. PAUL — Rose Marie Ward, 71, of St. Paul died at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011, at her home. She had been in failing health over five years.

She was born in Parsons on Dec. 19, 1939, to Oscar L. and Phyllis E. (Kendall) Williams. She grew up in Parsons and graduated from Labette County Community High School in Altamont.

On Aug. 31, 1965, she married John Edward Ward in Parsons. She had lived in St. Paul since her marriage. She worked at a nursing home in St. Paul before her retirement. She was a member of the United Methodist Church.

Survivors include her husband, John E. Ward of the home; two sons, David Hughes and his wife, Cathy, of Walnut and James Ward of the home; a daughter, Peggy Riddle and her husband, Brian, of Walnut; grandchildren, David Riddle, Gabby Riddle, both of Walnut, Nancy Jones and her children, Keysha Hughes, Treveon Jones and Nayria Jones, David A. Hughes and his wife, Michelle, and their children, Parker Hughes, Seri Nelson, Grace Nelson and Halie Norton, Patrick R. Hughes and his wife, Brittany, and their son, Ryan Hughes, Johnathan Hughes and his son, Dalton Nibacher, Becky Boyd and her husband, Robby, and their children, Megan Boyd, Madison Boyd, Mckinzie Boyd and Robby Boyd, Christiana Lindsey and her husband, Steven, and their children, Angel Lindsey, Teresa Lindsey, Tasha Lindsey, Keith Lindsey and Jackie Lindsey; two sisters, June Ralston of Coffeyville and Wanda Simmons of Chelsea, Okla.

She was preceded in death by two children, Tommy D. Ward in 1998 and Davinda Swart in 2002; a grandson, Daniel Swart in 2002; and a sister, Mary Bransford.

The graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Hope Cemetery in St. Paul. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Carson-Wall Funeral Home in St. Paul, where friends may call after noon today.

Memorials are suggested to the St. Paul High School Athletic Department. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home at P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.