Janice Elaine Ward

JANICE ELAINE (GENTRY) WARD Janice Elaine (Gentry) Ward, 72, of Hot Springs Village, AR, passed away on January 24, 2024, after a long-fought battle with cancer. She was in the embrace of loved ones and felt no pain as she ascended into heaven. The world is less beautiful and there is an empty place in all our hearts that will never be filled. Janice was born on July 17, 1951, to James Belfield Gentry and Ethel Elaine (Shaw) Gentry, in Oklahoma City, OK. Growing up in Ardmore, Janice cherished her classmates at Charles Evans and Ardmore Junior/Senior High School. She loved attending class reunions and getting together with her 'Golden Girls' group. Family was also special to Janice, and she was especially close to her Grandma Shaw. After graduating with the class of '69, Janice attended Murray State College and many years later graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She was a Sooner at heart and a football season ticket holder. Janice's work career started with banking and commercial loans. She found her true calling in the nursing field and became an LPN, working for Mercy Health Center in Ardmore and Oklahoma City. Before retirement, she transitioned into medical auditing and coding. Nursing was such a perfect fit for Janice as it matched her giving and nurturing love for people. Janice's second career was serving as a devoted military spouse from 2000 until Bill's retirement in 2021. Throughout these years, Janice was the 'cookie mom' to the members of Bill's units. They always hated when Bill completed his duty with a particular unit, because they knew they would get no more of Janice's cookies. Janice had a love and devotion for the military families. She received the Missouri Conspicuous Service Medal on two separate occasions and the US Army Engineer Association's Essayons Award. Though not in uniform, she served her country with much love and support. When not working or attending military functions, Janice loved her dogs, holidays, especially Christmas. She would start decorating and listening to Christmas music as soon as Thanksgiving was over. She and "sissy" her sister-in-law had a close relationship and enjoyed shopping and drinking wine together. Janice was raised a Christian and remained a humble servant to the Lord her whole life. She was a devoted member of the NW 21st Street Church of Christ in Oklahoma City, prior to moving to Arkansas. Janice met Bill in 1999 and it was love at first sight. They were best friends and soulmates to the end. She married Bill in Neosho, Missouri in June 2000 on the radio control flying field. Some of their favorite things to do were going to OU football games, riding motorcycles (she rode her own Harley-Davidson Low Rider), travelling and camping in their RV, hiking, boating, watching movies (their favorite movie was "What Dreams May Come"), and flying radio control airplanes. They made each other better and were and forever will be an "effective team". Janice loved her children with all her heart. Her oldest son Bryan Fuller was born in 1971, Matthew Hester was born in 1983, and her youngest son Sean, was 4 years old when she and Bill met. Janice was predeceased by her grandparents and her parents. She is survived by her husband William (Bill, her "Sugar") Ward also of Hot Springs Village, AR, her sons Bryan Fuller of Tulsa, Ok, Matthew Hester of Fort Collins, CO, Sean Ward and wife Katy of Moore, OK, brother Jim Gentry and wife Sherry of Hot Springs Village, AR as well as numerous uncles, aunts, cousins and a host of loved ones from her National Guard, Tinker AFB, Mercy, Phillips McFall and Class of 69 families. She leaves behind a legacy of love, joy and caring she spread to everyone she met. A memorial service will be held at Barnes Friederich Funeral Home, 1820 South Douglas Blvd, Midwest City, OK on Saturday, February 17th at 1pm. The family will receive visitation at the funeral home on the day of the service from 11am to 12:30pm. Those wishing to do so can share memories of Janice at the service.