Shelly Jean Ward

Shelly Jean Wilmon-Ward was born on May 11th, 1960 in Tahlequah, OK, the daughter of Frederick Houston and Lois Mae (Thompson) Wilmon. The family lived in Groveland, CA and would later relocate to the Tahlequah, OK area. She was raised with two brothers and two sisters, Mike Wilmon, James Wilmon, Brenda Wilmon Dargin and Darla Wilmon Nolen. From the times of her early childhood, Shelly loved horses, breaking them, riding them, spending time with them. There were no bad horses, only horses Shelly hadn’t lovingly trained to be their very best. Once she graduated from high school, she attended beauty college and began raising her family of two sons and two daughters, Jason, Jeremy and Jennifer. She loved her kids, and there was no one better to spend the day with then her kids and grandkids. She worked for a number of years in Law Enforcement. Both at Cherokee County Jail and Adair County. She treated everyone she came across with the dignity and respect, no matter their circumstances in life. She loved to spend time with her herd of cattle spoiling them with little debbies. She married William Clay Ward in Eureka Springs, AR on October 16th, 2015, they shared each other's dreams, conversations, love and laughter. Shelly kept to herself, and needed no one else to enjoy the day. She was kind, outgoing, and if you needed her help, just turn and she was there. Her story came to a close on January 5th, 2024 in Tahlequah, OK. She was 63 years old and will be greatly missed by all the lives she has touched.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Garland and Margrett (Davis) Wilmon, and Herman and Maudie (Hicks) Thompson. She also joins her father, Fred Wilmon.

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband William “Bill” Ward of the home and her children, Jason Ingram and Micah of Proctor, OK, Jeremy Ingram and wife Christina of Sallisaw, OK, Jennifer Ingram of Tahlequah, and Alicia Smead and husband Christopher of Pensacola, FL. She leaves her brothers and sisters, Mike Wilmon and wife Phyllis of Tahlequah, James Wilson and wife Sharon of Park Hill, Brenda Dargin and husband Jerry of Minden. IA, and Darla Nolen and husband Todd of Dimmitt, TX. She will live on in her grandchildren, Tyler Ingram of Colcord, Brent Ingram of Proctor, Steven Copeland of Colcord, Case Ingram of Lincoln, AR, Arliegh Akins of Lincoln, AR, Waytn Ingram and Wastyn Ingram of Proctor, OK, Rylan Crites of Proctor, OK, Houston Ingram and wife Ashlynn of Sallisaw, Bailey Ingram of Sallisaw, Madison Ingram of Stilwell, Karlee Ingram of Stilwell, Haliyah Ingram of Sallisaw, Henry Smead of Pensacola, FL, and Andrew Smead also of Pensacola, Fl. She leaves two great grandchildren, Wrenley Mae and Daisy Kate Ingram of Sallisaw. She also leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones too numerous to mention.

A memorial service for Shelly Jean Wilmon-Ward will be held on Thursday, January 11th, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Reed-Culver Chapel. A celebration of Shelly’s life will follow the services at Peggs Community center.