Maurice Ward, age 85 of Malvern, died Sunday, July 8, 2012, in Benton . She was born in Hot Spring County on May 26, 1927 to the late Fred Griggs and Julie Elmore Griggs. Reared and receiving her early education in Malvern, she later attended Henderson State University and Ouachita Vo-Tech (now COTO). Maurice had worked as a nurse's assistant at St. Joseph Hospital , Hot Spring County Memorial Hospital , and for Quality Care Nursing in Hot Springs and Little Rock . She also was a certified Emergency Medical Technician. Maurice was a member of Keith Memorial United Methodist Church . She loved listening to gospel music, attending the Hope Watermelon Festival, and Malvern's Brickfest. Maurice was the widow of the late Milburn Ward, to whom she was married on August 17, 1945 in Donaldson , Arkansas . He preceded her in death on March 1, 2007.

She is survived by her son, Randy Ward of Malvern; two daughters, Marilyn Orr (Bill) of Benton; and Judy Lambert (Willard) of Springtown, Texas; four grandchildren, Ken Lambert, Monty Lambert, Michele Briggs, and Sean Orr; and by four great-grandchildren, Noah Orr, Christopher Briggs, and Taylor and Trevor Lambert.

Her funeral will be held at two o'clock Wednesday afternoon, July 11, 2012 in the chapel of J. A. Funk Funeral Home with Reverend Dale Diffee officiating. Interment will follow in Prairie Bayou Cemetery.

A visitation will precede the service on Wednesday, beginning at one o'clock.

Online condolences may be sent via jafunkfuneralhome.com.