Carolyn Ward

Mary Carolyn Ward, 69 of Central, Louisiana, went to be with the Lord on August 30, 2023. She was born on October 15, 1953 in San Luis Obispo, California to Robert Wyrick, Sr. and Leona Smith Wyrick. She was preceded in death by her only brother, Robert "Bobby" Wyrick, Jr.

Carolyn is survived by her devoted husband Kenneth "Ken" Ward; daughters Joy, Rebekah and Jordan; stepdaughters Sarah, Rachel and Leah; grandchildren Leah, Amara, Frances and Enoch; nephew Jason; niece Jessica and her beloved miniature dachshund, Lady.

As a single mother Carolyn attended Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas circa 1980 where she earned credentials as a Children's Ministry Director which she later used in service at Bethany Church in Baker, Louisiana. There she met and married Ken in 1987 when they blended their families, eventually raising 4 teenage girls and 2 toddlers in a 1,000 sqft, single bathroom home in Baker.

Carolyn earned her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1998. There she founded a chapter of the Nurses Christian Fellowship. She went on to touch many lives during her nursing career in oncology, geriatrics and hospice care. As a nurse Carolyn was always known for her warm touch - her hands were always warm even when the environment was cold.

Some of Carolyn's happiest early memories involved her childhood dog, a dachshund named Charlie. As a result she raised a breeding pair of red miniature dachshunds named Fritz and Gisela after graduating nursing school. The breed made a special place in her heart and she had dachshunds until the time of her passing. Her beloved long-haired red dachshund, Lady, will be adopted by one of her daughters.

Her hands held many talents which Carolyn was often known to use in making gifts with personal touches. With her skills as a seamstress she constructed her wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses worn by daughters in her wedding to Ken. She also baked and decorated her wedding cake, and many subsequent cakes to celebrate birthdays and milestones. Carolyn was known for gifting hooded baby towels with custom ribbons or ruffles. She passed down her talents to her daughters who have each become creatives in their own right through painting, sewing, quilting, crochet and cake decorating. Above all Carolyn's deepest passion was in quilting. Those that were loved by her will be kept warm by her creations for many years to come.

A memorial service for Carolyn will be held on Monday, September 4th at Victory Harvest Church at 3953 N. Flannery Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70814. Visitation will be from 5-6pm with a brief service beginning at 6:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Carolyn's honor may be made to the Louisiana Nurses Honor Guard of Greater Baton Rouge on venmo @LNHGofGBR or mailed c/o Louisiana Nurses Honor Guard, 10453 Springwind Ct. Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70810.