, 67° F
(Feb. 18, 1937 - July 29, 2014)
After a lengthy battle with cancer, Jerry Frank Ward, 77, of Cody, died at Spirit Mountain Hospice House in Cody on July 29, 2014.
Jerry was born the youngest of nine children on Feb. 18, 1937, to Fred and Georgia Ward of Saratoga, where he attended school and graduated in 1955.
He joined the Army in 1956 and married Della Henderson on July 14, 1962.
Jerry attended Hastings College, was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Stinking Water Free Trappers, Yellowstone Mountain Men, GPAA of Powell and Cody Mens’ Bible Study Group.
Jerry marched in the Fourth of July parade in Cody for about 40 years, taught Sunday school for more than 20 years, was involved in his church choir, helped with Cub and Boy Scouts, worked on monuments at Old Trail Town and helped with the Mountain Man Suitcase Project at the museum.
He also helped map projects from Telephone Pioneers. He enjoyed camping, family visits and outings, but especially his coffee breaks.
He retired from U.S. West Telephone company in 1985. After he retired from the phone company, Jerry worked at Grand Teton Lodge during his summers until his cancer prevented him from continuing.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Georgia, his brothers Jim, Tom, Joe, Neal and one sister Francis.
He is survived by his wife, Della; children Perry (Cheryl) Ward, Nicholas (Sharon) Ward, Paul Ward and Monica (Jerry) Nicholson; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; 22 nieces and nephews; as well as his sisters Ruth Brock, Winnifred Bryant, Merle Starr and sisters in-law Jean Ward and Barbara Ward.
A memorial service will be held in his honor at the Presbyterian Church in Cody at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 11. His urn will be buried at the cemetery in Saratoga at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16.
An online memorial is available at www.ballardfh.com.
