Jimmy Gene Ward

Jimmy Gene Ward, 91, of Port Arthur passed away on Monday, June 29,2020 at Bonne Vie Nursing Home in Port Arthur.

He was born on July 4, 1928 to his parents, Johnny Ward and Nora Lavender Ward in Henderson, Texas and raised in Tenaha, Texas. Jimmy lived most of his life in the Port Arthur area. He began working at the Orange Shipyard and then got hired as a carpenter for Builder’s Lumber Company in Port Arthur. He joined the Carpenter’s Local 610, where he was a member for over 50 years. Jimmy was a self employed carpenter and operated J. G. Ward Construction Company for many years. He was a member of Trinity Baptist Church and later Memorial Baptist Church in Port Arthur. Jimmy was a 32 nd degree Mason with the Nederland Masonic Lodge.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Carl Ward and his wife, Jean, his brother-in-law, Harold Lee, his first wife, Margie Ward and his second wife, Annie Mae Ellender.

Jimmy is survived by his daughter, Debbie Johnson of Port Arthur, his three sons, Larry Ward and his wife, Anita, Roger Ward and his wife, June, Johnny Ward all of Port Arthur, his step-daughter, Faye Hoyt of Groves, his three step-sons, Kenny Ellender of Toledo Bend, Dwayne

Ellender and Ricky Ellender both of Sulphur, Louisiana. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren, Jesse Johnson, Justin Johnson, J. P. Smith, Stephanie Chestnut, Audrey Crawford, Sarah Blankenship and Leanna Bishop with numerous great grandchildren and several great-

great grandchildren along with two sister, Johnny Wiltz and her husband, Bill, Rachel Lee all of Nederland, numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 from 1:00 PM till 2:00 PM at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home in Groves. Service to honor Jimmy's life will be at 2:30 PM Wednesday, July 1,2020 at Greenlawn Memorial Park. Masonic Graveside rites will follow.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the family is requesting that a small number of visitors be inside the chapel, be advised that face masked are required at the Funeral Home by mandate from the County. Those wishing to attend the service are asked to come later in the visitation hour, so that they may follow us to the cemetery in procession.