Mary Claire Butts Ward

Mary Ward, age 85 of Pace died Tuesday February 28th 2023. She was born in Holmes County, FL to parents Louie Butts and Mattie Helms Butts. She lived most of her life in Pensacola before retiring with her husband James (Jim) Ward to Pace.

Upon her graduation from Walton High School, DeFuniak Springs in 1955, her move to Pensacola provided her an opportunity to become one of the early public stenographers in the area working within the legal profession, industry and professional firms. In 1967 she joined Willard Brown in the founding of Instrument Control Service, Inc.

Mary was an active longtime member of East Brent Baptist Church where she met and married her husband, James Edward Ward in 1956. She was preceded in death by her husband, an infant son, Stephen Edward Ward, her parents, brothers, Morgan Flournoy Butts, Foy Butts and Glenn Butts, and sister, Lisa Cochran.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughter Connie Elaine Taylor and husband, William Douglas Taylor Jr, her son Carl Randal Ward and wife, Lisa Suzanne (Pulos) Ward, grandchildren, Brooke Nicole Taylor, William Douglas Taylor III, Brandi Suzanne (Jeremy) Weekley, Carl Randal (Brianna) Ward Jr, as well as eight great-grandchildren, a brother, Foster Butts, sisters Sue Loy and Judy Coleman.

The family will receive friends at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday March 7, 2023 , with funeral services following at 11:00 a.m. at Pine Terrace Baptist Church, 6212 Pine Blossom Rd, Milton, FL with Pastor Nathan Brown, Dr. Dale Patterson and Pastor Zach Smith officiating. Burial will follow at Bayview Memorial Park, Pensacola, FL.

The family would like to thank the staff at Sacred Heart Hospital and The Joyce Goldenberg Hospice Residence for their support and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution in memory of Mary Ward, Pine Terrance Baptist Church or The Residence, Pensacola, FL.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BayviewFisher-PouChapel.com for the Ward family.