Ward family tradition is about treating others

JoAnn Ward’s love for Christmas keeps four generations of her family busy during November and December.

“The Lord is the one who inspired me to do these things for Christmas,” JoAnn said. “He gave his son for us.”

Continuing, JoAnn said, “I just love Christmas. Christmas is my favorite holiday.”

JoAnn Ward and great-grandson Gannon look at 1979 photograph of Ward, her son, Joe, and daughter, Carol, working together in the kitchen. DAR/Barbara Ann Horton

Driving up to her home, guests are greeted with Christmas decorations, including a lighted cross, toys for the great-grandchildren and the family’s three-legged lab, Coco.

Her love for the holiday continues inside where there are multiple Christmas trees and decorations even in the garage.

Since her children, Joe and Carol, were young, she’s always prepared treats and she and her husband, Carl “Butch” Ward, would invite friends and family to their home to visit.

For years, JoAnn was director of the Twin Towers Nutrition Center. After retirement, she admits, “I miss my people.”

Butch retired from the highway department about five years ago.

A few years ago, the family began making a list of people who might not have a merry Christmas and began to sweeten the season with homemade treats.

This year, the fourth generation, Gannon Ward, 6, helped. Having younger family members assist always has been a tradition.

Gannon is in first grade at Hillview Elementary School. His grandfather and JoAnn’s son, Joe, is a lieutenant with the Poplar Bluff Police Department. Daughter Carol Combs works at Municipal Utilities.

In 1979, Joe was 11 years old and a student at Mark Twain Elementary School when he helped his mother make a favorite, caramel corn. Gannon’s dad, Dalton, has helped with the project as well.

JoAnn and Carol started in November making candy. Fried pies were the last thing to be prepare and her great-grandson helped with them, so they were ready for Christmas Eve delivery.

The family not only enjoys making and delivering their special treats, they enjoy viewing Christmas lights and have been to Lake Wappapello to see the lights. They also watch Christmas movies together.