Nancy Belle Hendricks

WARD, Nancy Belle Hendricks, formerly of Cushing, OK and Oklahoma City, passed away March 31, 2024. Born May 25, 1933 in the small community of Spotsville, AR to Baxter Abe and Callie Ainsworth Hendricks, Nancy was seventh of eight children. She started grade school at age five graduating from Village High School in 1950 at age 16. After graduation, she married TC Braswell. They welcomed three children Mike, Tim and Alicia. TC’s job with Phillips took them to south Texas until his final transfer to Cushing OK in 1970. When her children were young, Nancy was a Cub Scout Den Mother, DeMolay Mom and sewed dance recital costumes for Alicia and her dance class. Nancy married Tom Ward in Cushing, OK October 21, 1976. Nancy and Tom enjoyed spending time with their combined families. They enjoyed many years traveling, playing golf, volunteering, church and friends. She enjoyed accompanying Tom around the state while he was a member of Masonic Grand Lodge. Nancy was an avid gardener and a graduate of the 1984 Oklahoma County Master Gardener’s Program. She enjoyed sharing her love of flowers with her neighbors and volunteered to plant the flower beds at her church and her neighborhood association. She was a longtime member of Daughters of the Nile where she was a member of the sewing group. She spent many hours making blankets to send to children at the Shrine Hospitals.

Beside her parents, Nancy was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 32 years, Tom Ward Jr. She was also preceded in death by brothers Elsie, Thad, Tillman, Troy and Gail; sisters Maudine and Maurine; and son-in-law Don Ingle. Also preceding her were nieces Margaret Bullock, Jackie Weldon and Charlotte Risinger and nephews David Hendricks, Terrell Bullock and Joe Bullock.

Nancy is survived by sons Mike (Dale) Braswell of Ellinger, TX and Tim (Teresa) Braswell of Stroud, OK and daughter Alicia Ingle of Edmond, OK. Also grandchildren Brandy (Ridge) Wessels of Ellinger, TX, Sunye Braswell of Ellinger, TX, Timothy Braswell of Stroud, OK, Jessica (Omar) Lewis of Edmond, OK and Aaron (Julianne) Ingle of Midwest City, OK. Surviving greatgrandchildren are Camryn Braswell, Tanner Jurk, Zak Braswell, Zoe Braswell, Brayden Braswell, Kilik Lewis and Anna Ingle. She is also survived by sister-in-law Francoise Hendricks of Lindale, TX and many nieces and nephews.

Additional survivors are stepsons Tom (Elvie) Ward III of Angeles City, Phillipines, Keith Ward, Tulsa, OK and Jay (Brenda) Ward of Bixby, OK. Step-grandchildren are Jeff, Megan, Anna, Lauren, Katherine, Patrick, Katina, Angela and Valerie and many step great-grandchildren.

Nancy requested a private graveside service be held at Memorial Park Cemetery where she will be laid to rest next to Tom. Nancy specifically requested no flowers as she enjoyed flowers her whole life and cannot take them with her. She requested memorial contributions be made in memory of Tom and Nancy Ward to India Shrine transportation fund, 3601 NW 36th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73112. Memorial contributions in memory of Nancy Ward can also be made to Porta Caeli Hospice House, PO Box 580460, Tulsa OK 74158-0460.

The family would like to express gratitude to Nancy’s longtime caregiver Tamara. A special thanks to Nancy’s hospice nurse Brandi, hospice aide Courtney and the devoted Suncrest Hospice team who cared for her with great love and compassion.

The staff at Porta Caeli Hospice House took outstanding care in making sure Nancy’s final days were comfortable and peaceful.