Carolee Jane Ward, 97, of rural Chanute passed away Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at the residence of her cousin, Mary Sue Carlson.
Carolee was born in Chanute, KS on July 14, 1915, the daughter of Delbert Thornton Abel Ward and Blanche (Richardson) Ward. She graduated from Lincoln High School in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1932 attended the University of Nebraska for 2 years and George Washington University in Washington DC for 2 years.
She worked for the Department of Commerce in Washington D.C. from 1941 until 1970, where the first 15 years were in the office of the Assistant Secretary for International Trade and for 14 years she was personal secretary to several Secretaries of Commerce. After her retirement she worked for Ben Bauman Bible Telecast for 10 years.
She was a member of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington DC from 1941 until 1973 where Peter Marshall was the pastor from 1937 until 1947. She joined the Foundry Presbyterian church in 1973 and was active as secretary and president of Foundry UMW. She was on the Board of Directors for the Kennedy Center. When she moved back to Chanute in 1997 she was active as a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Art and Literature Club, P.E.O., and volunteered at the Chanute Art Gallery. Her interests included piano, flute, ballet, orchestra, opera, theatre and traveling.
Carolee is survived by her local cousins, Sam and Dianne Ward, Dee and Bob Magill, and David and Mary Sue Carlson all of Chanute, KS.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
A Memorial Celebration will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 12, 2012 at the First Presbyterian Church.
Memorials in her name may be made to the First Presbyterian Church and may be left with the funeral home.
Penwell-Gabel Gibson Chapel is in charge of arrangements.