Clayton Ward

Clayton Leon Ward, 89 of Elk City, Oklahoma went to be with his Lord peacefully at home with close friends by his side on May 29, 2023. He was born to Oren Ward and Ethel Goines Ward on October 20, 1933, in the Sentinel, OK area. Older brothers, Don, Harold, and Kenneth, and younger sister Clara Lou, kept him in line, or maybe got him a little trouble sometimes, depending on who was telling the story. Clayton grew up on the family farm west of Sentinel and attended Port school in the area. He was very proud of the school and was instrumental in the monument set up to commemorate it. He graduated in 1952 with his future spouse, Betty Schulz and her twin brother, Bill. Shortly after graduating, Bill and Clayton moved to the Houston area where he began working for Shell Oil. Clayton served in the Army and ended his time at Fort Polk in Louisiana. He returned to work for the Shell Oil Co., on the day after his discharge. He proudly worked for Shell for 30 years. Clayton married Betty Schulz Ward, for the first time on May 1, 1955, and again on July 10, 1987. They lived in Houston for 37 years and moved back to the farm northwest of Sentinel in July 1989. Clayton and Betty moved north to Elk City to the current home in January of 2002.
Clayton was very active in the communities he lived in and was always willing to help. He loved his dogs and enjoyed telling you about them. Clayton also enjoyed watching wildlife and especially liked watching the birds around the house. During the last few years, with modern technology, he even enjoyed watching YouTube channels of bird feeder cams.
Clayton was preceded in death by many. His wife of many years, Betty Schulz Ward, his parents, Oren and Ethel, His siblings, Don Ward, Harold Ward, Kenneth Ward, and Clara Lou Ward McClung and a host of other family and friends. He is survived by 3 cousins, Mary Lou Cluck Matthews, Sammie Kay Hurt, and Jeff Goines. He is also survived by 8 nieces and nephews and their families, Bobby Ward, Linda Kay Hoover, Donna Patterson, Larry Dale Ward, Teresa Burgess, Shelly McCown, Billy Staton, Paula Workman, and Diana Staton. Clayton is also survived by 3 stepchildren, Melody Geer, Don Jones, and Jeff Jones and their families.
Clayton will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.


Funeral Service: 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 3, 2023
Ray & Martha's Funeral Home Chapel
Sentinel, Oklahoma

Visitation: 1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Friday, June 2, 2023
Ray & Martha's Funeral Home
Sentinel, Oklahoma

Interment: Sentinel Cemetery, Sentinel, Oklahoma


Under the direction of Ray & Martha's Funeral Home, Sentinel, Oklahoma