Nettie Sue Ward

 Nettie Sue Ward

 Nettie Sue Ward, nee Steinmeier, the daughter of the late Joe and Pearl Steinmeier Hawks passed away peacefully at the Puxico Nursing Center on Friday, January 3, 2025 at the age of 94 with family by her side.

 Nettie was born August 25th, 1930.

 She graduated from Puxico High School in 1948, obtained her bachelor's degree from State Teacher's College Southeast Missouri State in 1960, and completed her Master's degree in 1972 (A note form Nettie: "12 years apart for each one, that's not my measurements!")

 She was married to Floyd Ward, Jr. and they were married for 64 years before he passed away, March 27th, 2015.

 She began her teaching career in 1950 at Tanner School, which was in the Grey Ridge School District. She taught the first four grade levels and notes that her first salary was $1800 for 9 months. She then taught at Puxico for 2 years, and then the Hazelwood School District in the St. Louis area for 25 years. She retired in 1985, after 30 years in education.

 It was then time for grandkids, traveling, and crafting. Her grandchildren recall many happy memories at Grandma and Papa's home in Florissant, MO, singing songs learning to read, playing Skip-Bo and always being assured of a readily available ice cream cone or popsicle.

 Nettie and Shorty moved back to Puxico in 2002. Nettie looked forward to the city-wide yard sales, enjoying visiting with people and displaying her many creative crafts. She was especially adept at turning trash into treasures, as those lucky enough to own one of her light bulb snowman can attest. She was a member of the 1st Baptist Church of Puxico, The Thursday Culture Club, and served on the Barry Glenn historical museum board for several years.

 She is survived by two sons: Terry (Linda Woolley) Ward and Keith (Anita Grigery) Ward, six grandchildren: Jon (Courtney Pare), Amy (Spencer) Chew, Allie Ward, Alyssa Ward, Laura (Dominic) Vitale and Elena Ward, and 4 great-grandchildren: Abbey Ward, Helen Chew, Enzo and Nico Vitale. She is also survived by one sister, Emma Walton of Auburn, Alabama and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends, whom she cherished.

 Nettie was preceded in death by five sisters: Dorothy Tweedy, Lillian Green, Pauline Sifford, Vivian Glenn, and Geneva Lacewell, four brothers: Billy Joe Steinmeier, Herbert Hoover Steinmeier, Bonnie Rudolph Steinmeier and Charles Leon Steinmeier.

 Service Information:

 The visitation will be on Sunday, January 12, 2025, beginning at 1 P.M. at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, Missouri.

 The funeral will be on Monday, January 13, 2025, beginning at 10 A.M. at the Puxico First Baptist Church in Puxico, Missouri.

 Watkins and Sons is handling all arrangements.

 Watkins and Sons Funeral Home

 www.watkinsfuneralhome.com