Mary Ward

MONTEREY -- Mary Ward, 96, of Main Road died Monday at home.

Born in Williamsburg on Aug. 16, 1911, daughter of John Milton and Alta Bates Black, she attended local schools and graduated from Massachusetts Agricultural College with a degree in chemistry. She also earned a master's degree in psychology from the Hartford Seminary in 1937, and a degree in education from the former Western Connecticut State College.

Mrs. Ward taught primary grades in Connecticut schools for 20 years. Along with her husband, she managed Gould Farm in Monterey during the war years of 1942-1947.

Together, they also served United Church of Christ parishes in Princeton, Maine, Conway, Monterey, Monroe, Conn., and Mansfield Center, Conn. She retired in 1976 and moved back to Monterey.

She was active in many service organizations such as the League of Women Voters. Her life of service was guided by her belief in a world peace and economic and social justice for all. Growing up on a farm shaped her lifelong love for nature and gardening.

Her husband, the Rev. Willard Raymond Ward, whom she married in 1933, died Feb. 27, 2001.

Mrs. Ward leaves three daughters, Leslie Paine of Sutton, Sally Pullen of Monterey, and Louise Henry of Williamsburg; a sister, Ruth Black Koczela of Williamsburg; four grandchildren, four stepgrandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

FUNERAL NOTICE -- A memorial service celebrating the life of Mary Ward, who died Monday, Oct. 15, 2007, will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Monterey United Church of Christ on Main Road, Monterey. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Monterey United church of Christ or to Gould Farm though FINNERTY AND STEVENS FUNERAL HOME, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family though www.finnertyandstevens.com. She also leaves sons-in-law, Curtis Paine, Steven Pullen, George Henry. She was predeceased by a brother, Lewis H. Black, and a sister, Juvenelia "Juvy" Black Harding.