Mary Lela Ward

Mary Lela Ward

• Father: Oscar Zenella Ward b. 1 January 1857, d. 29 March 1944
• Mother: Martha A. Moore b. 2 June 1856, d. 7 February 1931

• Mary Lela Ward was born on 16 October 1875 in Alabama.
• She was known as Lela.
• Oscar Zenella Ward and Martha A. Moore appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Freestone County, Texas. Other members of the household included Mary Lela Ward, Ola F. Ward.
• Oscar Zenella Ward and Martha A. Moore appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Navarro County, Texas. Other members of the household included Mary Lela Ward, Ola F. Ward, Blake Zenella Ward, Will Jay Ward, Oscar Arthur Ward, Walter W. Ward, John Herbert Ward, Rex H. Ward, Ross S. Ward and Lois Irma Ward.
• On 12 August 1908, a postcard postmarked Tolbert, Texas, arrived in Corsicana, Texas, ddressed to Miss Lela Ward: "Hello kid, how are you getting along, we are all well. we will rite to you in a few days. Tell Maud hello and send me a card, send me card or a letter ??. L." Photo of a church on the front, and written: Walter said to take a big drink of beer for him.
• Oscar Zenella Ward and Martha A. Moore appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Hardeman County, Texas. Other members of the household included Mary Lela Ward, John Herbert Ward, Ross S. Ward, Rex H. Ward and Lois Irma Ward.
• She married William Orman Gee, son of Charles Pinckney Gee and Susan Nancy Hays, say 1912.
• William Orman Gee and Mary Lela Ward appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Curry County, New Mexico, south of Texico.
• Mary Lela Ward became a widow at the 28 February 1925 death of her husband William Orman Gee although it appears that they may have been separated at that time.
• She married Benjamin Lloyd Stevens, son of John Benjamin Stevens and Lucinca C. Brown, on 14 April 1927 in Wichita County, Texas, with W. L. Hicks, MG, officiating.
• Audrey Ward lived with her aunt Lela Stevens in a boarding house/hotel she ran one of the times she went back to Ft. Worth.
• She officially witnessed the death of Martha A. Moore on 7 February 1931 at 2500 Bird in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas; at her residence.
• Mary Lela Ward appeared in the 1932 Fort Worth, Texas, City Directory at 100-1/2 East Exchange listed as Mrs. Lela Stevens, housekeeper, Maverick Hotel..
• Mary Lela Ward appeared in the '1935-1936 Fort Worth, Texas, City Directory at 223-1/2 West Exchange Avenue listed as Mrs. Lela Stevens (Hereford Hotel). Essentially the same listing appeared in each Fort Worth directory until the 1945 edtion. The Hereford Hotel was in the Fort Worth Stockyards District..
  

  1935-36 Fort Worth City Directory
• The following appeared on 22 April 1938 in The Corsicana Daily Sun: (Streetman, April 21) Blake Ward and sister, Mrs. Stevens of Fort Worth visited relatives in Richland Saturday night.
• Mary Lela Ward appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, at 223-1/2 West Exchange at the Hereford Hotel. Other members of the household included Oscar Zenella Ward, Blake Zenella Ward and John Herbert Ward. Also in the household were 37 lodgers, a housekeeper and one maid. Brother John Herbert is identified as Hubbard Ward, age 47.
  

  223 Exchange Avenue, Fort Worth, photographed June 2016
• She was a hotel manager, according to the 1940 census.
• Blake Zenella Ward registered for the draft on 27 April 1942 in Tarrant County, Texas, while living in Fort Worth at 223-1/2 West Exchange (Hereford Hotel) with his sister Lela Stevens.
• John Herbert Ward registered for the draft on 27 April 1942 in Tarrant County, Texas, while living in Fort Worth at 223-1/2 West Exchange with his sister Lila Stephens, and self-employed there.
• She officially witnessed the death of Oscar Zenella Ward on 29 March 1944 at Pennsylvania Avenue Hospital in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas.
• Mary Lela Ward (and Blake Zenella Ward) appeared in the 1947 Fort Worth, Texas, City Directory at 223-1/2 West Exchange Avenue listed as Hereford Hotel (Blake and Lelah Ward). In the 1949 Fort Worth directory, James A Nelson is listed as manager..
• The following appeared on 15 October 1954 in The Corsicana Semi-Weekly Light: (Streetman, Oct. 14) Guests of Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Ward over the week-end were Mr. Ward's cousins of Fort Worth, Mrs. Lela Stevens and Blake Ward.
• At the time of her death Mary Lela Ward was living in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, at 3116 8th Avenue.
• Mary Lela Ward died on 21 February 1960 at age 84 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, at St Joseph's Hospital . Her death was officially witnessed by John Herbert Ward.
• She was interred at Memorial Lawn, Mount Olivet Cemetery, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas.
  

  Mary Lela Ward Gee Stevens (1875-1960), Mount Olivet Cemetery, Fort Worth grave marker photo by Allen Wheatley, http://teafor2.com

• Last Edited: 23 Jul 2016