Crest Ridge 59
Archie 48
Lockwood 47
Buffalo 44
Harrisonville 53
Carl Junction 59
Warrensburg 78
California 60
McAuley Catholic 52
Golden City 48
Appleton City 60
Lakeland 31
Chilhowee 42
Montrose 37
Drexel 72
Osceola 37
Windsor 60
Sacred Heart 49
Cole Camp 62
Stover 44
Girls
Crest Ridge 16
Archie 52
Lafayette County 31
Holden 42
Appleton City 62
Lakeland 40
Chilhowee 22
Montrose/Ballard 37
Drexel 29
Osceola 63
Windsor 19
Sacred Heart 50
Versailles 52
Sherwood 43
Cole Camp 27
Stover 51
Barbara Ann Ward, age 88 of Amsterdam, Missouri died Thursday, January 22, 2026 at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. She was born May 5, 1937 to Virgil Victor and Cleda Irene Thornbrugh Ward in Marysville, Kansas.
Barbara is survived by two sons, Terry West and wife Kassie of Butler, Missouri and Larry West and wife Shirlie of Amoret, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Grant West, Vanessa West, Alex West (Brooke), Benson Schwark, Wren Smith, Arthur Smith and Mason Jackson (fiancé, Cailey Weber); seven great-grandchildren, Colin, Ethan, Khloe, Natalie, Nolan, Maverick and Bentley; and two sisters, Karen Brown and Sandy Curnutte. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and brother, Billy Ward.
Nevada 51
Blue Valley Southwest 49
Sheldon 57
Galena 54
Warrensburg 76
Pleasant Hill 59
Hermitage 66
Rich Hill 64
Clinton 76
Sacred Heart 44
Girls
Chilhowee 41
Drexel 46
El Dorado Springs 41
Lockwood 34
Deanna “Dee Dee” Lynn Ward (née Diana Ward) was born August 8,1948 in Kansas City, Missouri. She died early morning, Friday, December 26, 2025, and is finally in the arms of a loving Father. Much of what is known about Dee Dee’s life is anecdotal; records of her family or childhood history are hard to find.
Here is what is known: Dee Dee Ward was a survivor…a tiny human being with a very great heart. Her parents, Kenneth Ward and Lola Hawley, could not care for her. As a result, she spent her childhood and young adult life in state mental facilities, foster homes and group homes. Deinstitutionalized in 1971, she became homeless. Dee Dee depended on shelters, HUD housing and other charitable resources throughout her life. Feisty and courageous, she was well known and often well loved by members of Kansas City’s social service industry. She was a regular at City Union Mission and Grand Avenue Temple, and the state, federal and mental health facilities that supported her. We are grateful to all who cared for Dee Dee and even bent a rule or two for her when necessary. Dee Dee taught us all about overcoming fear, about resilience and about love. Her final months were spent at Butler Rehabilitation and Health Center in Butler, Missouri where the staff treated her with grace and kindness. She is preceded in death by her parents; her partner, Raymond Davis; and her son Shawn who died in 2007 during combat operations in Baghdad. She is survived by her sons, Kenny and Charlie. If you would like to make a gift in honor of Dee Dee’s life to support the Deanna L. Ward Fund for City Union Mission’s L. Minor Care Center, please give here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/deannaward. The fund will support individuals experiencing homelessness who have behavioral, mental, emotional and developmental challenges and are sheltered at the Care Center. For more information about Dee Dee’s life, email Julie Larocco at julielarocco57@gmail.com.
