Jerry Lee Ward

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Jerry Lee Ward, 80, retired chief building engineer with USAA Realty, died Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at his residence in Columbia.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Trent Alexander officiating. Burial will follow in Jackson Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Saturday, January 25, 2025 from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to American Diabetes Association at https://diabetes.org, Alzheimer’s Association http://act.alz.org, American Cancer Society https://donate.cancer.org . Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

Jerry was born on March 19, 1944 in Mansfield, Missouri to the late James Ottis “Red” Ward and the late Mary Elizabeth Dixon Ward. He graduated from William Chrisman High School in Independence, Missouri in 1962 and married Martha “Marty” Armstrong Ward on June 6, 1964. Jerry was involved in Little League Sports having coached, managed and umpired. He also umpired baseball, football, basketball and softball and served as a past President of the Umpire Association. Jerry served also as a former President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer for Pop Warner in Blue Springs, Missouri where he had also overseen the concessions of the Blue Springs High School Athletic Department. He was an avid reader, Kansas City Chiefs fan and most of all loved being a husband, father and a Papa to his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years Martha “Marty” Armstrong Ward of Columbia; two children, Mark A. Ward (Susan) of Thompson’s Station and Gail D. Harris (Lance) of Columbia; three grandchildren, Haley Ward Gomoljak (John) of Spring Hill, Hannah Ward Eddins (Hank) of Shelbyville, and Conor Harris of Columbia; two great grandchildren, J.P. Gomoljak and Colton Gomoljak; three nieces, Bette Knouse Jenner, Linda Knouse Bult (Bob) and Brenda Knouse; and a cousin, Betty Still of Texas.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his daughter, Tammy Annette Ward in 1970; sister, Mary Kay Ward Knouse; and a nephew, Edward Eugene Knouse.

Pallbearers will be John Gomoljak, Lance Harris, Hank Eddins, Donald Rider, Scott Harris, and Dalton Clark. Honorary pallbearers will be Conor Harris, J.P Gomoljak, and Mark Ward. The family would like to express a special thanks to Compassus Hospice for their care over the last few months.