James 'Jim' Ellis Ward

James "Jim" Ellis Ward, 77 of Blytheville, departed this life Sunday Feb. 13, 2011, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. Mr. Ward was born Oct. 16, 1933, in Cleveland, Ark., to Ellis James and Faye Swain Ward, who also preceded him in death.

Mr. Ward was known in his younger days as an avid athlete, both at Deering High School and Arkansas State University, where he set records that stand today, some 58 years later. He taught the first-ever driver's education class at Deering High School, and coached for a brief period before he started a career in farming in 1959, a career that he loved and expanded on for more than 25 years. He brought the use of chemicals, liquid fertilizer and various new-age equipment sales and instructional help to farmers when he opened Deering Seed and Fertilizer Co. as a partner with J.F. Calhoun in the late 60s and early 70s. In 1974 he worked for Farmer's Home Administration for two years. He resumed his farming career in 1976 until 1987 when he began working for DeWitt Auction Company where he continued to be close to the farming community. He remained in the farming arena in 1989 when he went to work as a store manager for Baker Implement Co. in Blytheville where he retired in 2000. A member of Clear Lake Baptist Church, Mr. Ward had many friends, associates, coworkers, and family that will truly miss him.

He leaves his wife of 56 years, Betty Jean Lindsey Ward of Blytheville;

Two sisters, Bonnie Stracener of Franklin, Tenn., and Gloria Love of Scotland, Ark.;

Two sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Laura Ward and Keith and Gayla Ward, all of Deering, Mo.;

Nine grandchildren,

Eleven great-grandchildren;

Several nieces, great-nieces, a great-nephew; and

A host of friends, family and three exceptional friends, John R. and J.C. Taylor and Merry Jim Elder.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Cobb Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Robert Duhon officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Kennett, Mo. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Cobb Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Clearlake Baptist Church. Condolences may be e-mailed to cobbfuneralhome@sbcglobal.net