Linda Ward

Linda Kaye Ward, the daughter of David and Bonnie (Johnson) Shepherd, was born December 16, 1944, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and departed this life on January 24, 2020, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 75 years, 1 month and 8 days.

Linda was a loving and caring lady who loved her family dearly. She was a lifetime Tahlequah resident, growing up in the Pumpkin Hollow area. Linda was a Tahlequah High School graduate. She married Bobby Gene Ward in 1964, and they had one son. Linda loved being a mother, but delighted in being a Nana and spoiling her two grandsons. She earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Northeastern State University and was a lifelong educator. She spent most of her teaching career at Cherokee Nation Talking Leaves Job Corp where she retired after 30 years of service. Linda loved teaching and was loved by her students and colleagues. She touched many lives over the years and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her sister Shirley Shepherd; and her brothers Harold Shepherd and JB Shepherd.

She is survived by a loving family which includes her son Bobby Dean Ward and wife Kristy of Tahlequah; her sister Betty Marriott of Sand Springs; and her grandsons Tanner Sallee of Muskogee and Weston Ward of Tahlequah. Several nieces, nephews, friends and other relatives also survive her.