Lois JoAnn Ward

Lois JoAnn Ward was born November 21, 1933, in Dallas, TX to Dorothy Pearl Johnson and Jayhue Beard Stinson. She grew up with two sisters and a brother- Margie Francis, Barbara Jean and Robert Ray Stinson. During the early years the family lived in the Shady Grove neighborhood in Dallas area. In 1947 the family moved to Arkansas. Days were spent attending school followed by listening to her dad pick the guitar on the front porch and singing gospel music together. Love for gospel music led her and her sisters to make a gospel album. In 1949, the family moved back to the Dallas area where JoAnn attended Grand Prairie High School.

One of JoAnn’s earliest jobs was at the local drive in. She recalls enjoying the nice tips and flirting with her high school customers while working as a waitress. At the age of 17, JoAnn took a position at HL Green’s Department Store. She would ride the bus from their home in Oak Cliff to downtown. It was on her bus rides that she met her first love, Lonnie McCoy, who was her bus driver. JoAnn was surprised one afternoon, as she was outside washing the car, to see him pull up in front of the house. He hollered at her, and she proceeded to laugh then spray his car with the water hose. It was in that moment, he asked her if she wanted to grab a coke and they had their first date. On December 15, 1952, JoAnn and Lonnie were married. They were blessed with three children, Lonnie Randall in 1957, Daniel Ray in 1959 and Lori Ann in 1964. Their adventures of love spanned over 37 years until Lonnie’s death in 1989.

JoAnn was always employed and was a hard worker. In 1953, JoAnn took a position at Southwestern Bell as an operator. It was at Southwestern Bell where she met the evening supervisor and lifetime friend, Girlie Mitchell who suggested that she apply for the position as a service observer. She quickly found herself applying and receiving the nighttime job. She spent many years enjoying the daily work life with the phone company and continued in that position for her time at Southwestern Bell. There were many stories told of “observing” calls of all types over the years. In 1986, she retired with over 33 years of service.

After retirement JoAnn had time to be the “Doting Nana”. JoAnn loved people. She especially loved babies and children. There were few days that she was not somewhere with her kids and grandchildren laughing, being silly and spending time together.

As the years went by a family relative suggested JoAnn might would like to enjoy a date or two. She set up a date with her and Edward L. Ward Jr. JoAnn had known him as a coworker during her time at Southwestern Bell.

Ed took JoAnn on their first date to a church Valentine’s banquet. It was a quick romance with these two. They spent hours together getting to know one another. Funny how JoAnn couldn’t keep her eyes open past at 8 p.m. but coming home after midnight was the easy normal for them. They married on May 10, 1997.

JoAnn’s life was full of many things including Pastoring for a short while and mentoring their many grandchildren and great grandchildren. The couple found a church home at Christian Center of Mesquite where they enjoyed many years with church family. They both crossed off a bucket list item with an Alaskan Cruise taken with friends and family. In June of 2020 Edward L. Ward Jr exited this life and into his reward.

JoAnn enjoyed many hobbies in her lifetime. Some of them included quilting/embroidering, planting flowers and yard work, cooking, shopping, and getting her nails done. She enjoyed a good homecooked meal at the local Cotton Patch restaurant or at the Black-Eyed Pea. She had a love for watching Hallmark movies and always enjoyed catching up on the latest season of Chicago Med. JoAnn loved to listen to gospel music and being an active part of her church family. During the later years of her life, she moved in with her daughter Lori and her family. Her days often started with reading her bible, watching her favorite preacher on TV and enjoying her morning coffee dates with Danny.

JoAnn is survived by her son Lonnie McCoy and his wife Desiree, daughter Lori Hensley and her husband John, and her brother, Robert Stinson. Her stepchildren Edward L. Ward III and his wife Roseanne, Pam Miller and her husband David. Her grandchildren, Melissa & Lacey McCoy, Jason McCoy and his wife Amanda, Kristi Smotherman and her husband Jeromy, James Laing and his wife Theresa, Dylan Hensley and his wife Alyssa, Justin Hensley and his wife Amber, Allyson Horn, Candice Sanchez and her husband Richard, Holly Hildago and husband Oswaldo, Ashley Clark and her husband Brandon, Christopher Ward and his wife Lindsey, Brittany Baughman and Edward L. Ward IV. Also, a multitude of great grandchildren, nieces & nephews, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents Dorothy and Jayhue Stinson, her sisters Margie Stinson & Barbara Hockett, her husband Lonnie McCoy, her husband Edward L. Ward Jr. and her son Daniel McCoy. The family would like to thank all their many friends and extended family for the love, prayers, and support that they have received in JoAnn’s death.