Mary Louise Ward

b. 9 November 1914, d. 15 March 2003
  • Father: Ross S. Ward b. 16 November 1892, d. 21 September 1973
  • Mother: Cora Mae Fife b. 29 February 1892, d. 13 August 1987
  • Mary Louise Ward was born on 9 November 1914 in Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas.
  • She was known as Louise.
  • The following appeared on 22 October 1915 in The Corsicana Semi-Weekly Light: This morning, Sheriff Pevehouse and Deputy Sheriff Seaton arrested and jailed Berkley Burris, a young white man, on a charge of burglary and he is now in jail. In May last, the home of Ross Ward, who lives just beyond the Zion's Rest community was entered and a lot of household goods, consisting of silverware, clothing, bedding, etc., were taken. Burris had been living with a brother-in-law, Mike Rector, in the same community, and the Rector house was searched and the stolen goods recovered. . . . Burris, who is just off the county farm where he was sent for stealing goods from a box car last spring, says he took the things from the Ward home, but that the house was open when he went in and got them.
  • The following appeared on 9 June 1916 in The Corsicana Daily Sun: Mrs. Ross Ward, who lives north of town, underwent a delicate and dangerous operation at the P. and S. hospital late yesterday afternoon, and her condition today is as favorable as could be expected.
  • Ross S. Ward registered for the draft on 5 June 1917 in Ardmore, Carter County, Oklahoma, living in the Oklahoma oil boom town of Wirt, employed as a rig builder in the oil fields, married with dependent wife and child.
  • A snapshot was taken of cousins Louise Ward and Frances Tinkle, about the end of 1917. Their mothers were sisters, Cora and Lottie Fife.
  • Ross S. Ward and Cora Mae Fife appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Amarillo, Potter County, Texas, at 1510 Fillmore. Other members of the household included Mary Louise Ward.
  • Ross S. Ward and Cora Mae Fife appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Amarillo, Potter County, Texas, at 413 East 11th Street. Other members of the household included Mary Louise Ward.
  • She married Gay B. Carter circa 1932.
  • The following appeared on 3 October 1934 in the Amarillo Globe-Times: Mrs. Gay B. Carter was honored with a miscellaneous shower at the home of her aunt, Mrs. Annie Priest, 807 Van Buren Street. Mrs. T. E. Tinkle and Mrs. Howard Strickland were assistant hostesses.
         Games and contests were introduced for entertainment in rooms attractively decorated with garden flowers. Prizes were awarded to Mrs. D. G. Stewart and Mrs. Otis Priest.
         After the gifts were opened, refreshments were served to Mesdames G. C. Gilbert, C. D. Mays, Olena Hickerson, Otis Priest, A. M. Fyfe, Jack Fyfe, Dick Hawkins, A. D. Duniven, C. W. Williams, Fred Williams, Henry Rose, J. J. Armstrong, W. Y. Alexander, Evelyn Alexander, G. Wright, G. K. Weaver.
         Mesdames Bob Lewis, L. Simpson, C. L. Watkins, Mabel Johnson, Anna Johnson, [Mary Louise's mother] Mae Ward, Albert Timmons, T. E. Tinkle, Howard Strickland, C. F. Moore, Gay B. Carter; Misses Frances Tinkle, Audrey Tinkle, Jessie Ruth Alexander and Virginia Timmons.
  • Gay B. Carter and Mary Louise Ward appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Amarillo, Potter County, Texas, at 513 Eighth Street. The family was living in Amarillo in 1935.
  • The following appeared on 19 June 1956 in The Amarillo Globe-Times: (Lubbock, June 18) Miss Patricia Gay Carter became the bride of Don Marquis Sikes recently in a double-ring service read by the Rev. Tom B. Anderson, pastor, in the First Presbyterian Church Chapel.
         The bride is the daughter of Mrs. Louise Carter, 3210 Julian, Amarillo and Gay B. Carter, 1606 Monroe, Amarillo. The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Sikes, Route 2, Longview.
         An arrangement of yellow and white chrysanthemums decorated the altar.
         Miss Judy Carter, sister of the bride, was maid-of-honor. She wore a white polished cotton, short-sleeved princes style dress of street length. Her had was of white lace. A corsage of white feathered carnations completed her costume.
         George F. Fowler, Longview, was best man.
         The bride was attired in an aqua dress of crystallette over taffeta, fashioned with a fitted bodice, short sleevs, V-neckline in back and front and a full street length skirt. A small velvet fitted hat and aqua linen shoes completed her dress. She carried a colonial bouquet of yellow orchids surrounded by white feathered carnations and showered with yellow streamers.
         A reception was given in the home of the bridegroom's aunt, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Worley, 2514 45th.
         The couple left for a wedding trip to Cloudcroft, Alamagordo, Ruidosa and Carlsbad, N. M. For the trip, the bride chose a black and white checked polished cotton sheath dress with black patent accessories.
         Mrs. Sikes was graduated from Amarillo High School and from Amarillo College, where she was a member of Gamma Theta Chi Sorority. She will receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in August from Texas Technological College, Lubbock, where she is a member of Sigma Tau Delta, honorary English fraternity.
         The bridegroom was graduated from Spring Hill High School in Longview, and received an Associate of Arts degree from Kilgore Junior College, Kilgore, and attended North Texas State College, in Denton. He served with the U. S. Army in Korea, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Texas Technological College, Lubbock. He is employed by Sandolind Oil and Gas Co. in Lubbock.
  • Mary Louise Ward appeared in the 1957 Amarillo, Texas, City Directory at 2710a Curtis Drive listed as Deputy County Clerk, and she as listed in the same position but at different addresses in the 1958 and 1959 directories..
  • She married Joseph Jay DeRaad.
  • Mary Louise Ward became a widow at the 17 December 1991 death of her husband Joseph Jay DeRaad.
  • Mary Louise Ward died on 15 March 2003 at age 88.
  • She was interred at Llano Cemetery, Amarillo, Potter County, Texas.
  • The following appeared on 16 March 2003 in the Amarillo Globe-News: Louise DeRaad of Amarillo died Saturday, March 15, 2003.
         Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Robert Field officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle.
         Mrs. DeRaad was born in Corsicana. She was a homemaker.
         She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph J. DeRaad.
         Survivors include two daughters, Pat Morgan, of Amarillo and Judy Welch of Wildorado; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
         The family suggests memorials be to Alzheimer's Association, 2200 W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, TX 79106.
  • Last Edited: 22 Jul 2016

Family 1: Gay B. Carter b. 14 January 1914, d. 8 November 1988

Family 2: Joseph Jay DeRaad b. 10 February 1913, d. 17 December 1991