Evelyn McDaniel Ward

On March 26, 2026, Evelyn McDaniel Ward, in her 99th year, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, leaving a life of kindness and caring, friendship and encouragement, and quiet but profound achievements.

A memorial service will be held at 11am Saturday, April 11 at First Baptist Church in Denton by the Rev Vern Peterson. A private burial will be held at the Ward Family Cemetery.

The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service.

She was born on November 2, 1926 in Miami, to John Randolph McDaniel and Lillian Buck McDaniel. Growing up during the Great Depression – sometimes envying the farmers who could grow their own food - she learned to respect and empathize with people from all walks of life. Later, she was instrumental in starting the first daycare center in Denton, and the Mt. Vista Health Park.

“Mac,” as she was known to her college friends, was one of the first, and youngest, women to attend Wake Forest College (now University) during World War II, where she met and married a returning wounded warrior. She taught at Trinity High School before raising her family. She hosted and taught three generations in the family as children, always doing something just for fun during their visits, balanced with and something that would broaden their interest in art or history or science. She enjoyed travel, touring on five continents with various members of the family, young and old. She had a fascination with genealogy when that required going through dusty records rather than computer clicks. She organized a church circle of the older, shut-in ladies who literally recalled the horse and buggies days.

Evelyn was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Judge Hiram H. Ward; her brothers James H. McDaniel (and his wife Norma), and John R. McDaniel (Athena); her in-laws Katherine Ward Spencer Peters (Charles), and Leslie Ward (Doris); and her nieces Margaret Spencer Lang (Bill); and, Carol Lynn Ward Thomas.

Left to cherish her memory are her sons, William M. (Bill) Ward, and Judge J. Randolph (Randy) Ward (Lynne); nieces and nephews, H. Charles (Chuck) Spencer IV (Melinda); Gregory McDaniel (Heather); Carolyn McDaniel; and, Robert K. (Bob) Ward; Rob Faria (Tina); her grandchildren, Daniel R. B. Ward (Melissa), William A. (Will) Ward, Alexander H. (Alex) Ward, and Eden E. Ward (Jesus); her great grandchildren Liam, Mia, Lila, Evie, Harrison, James, and Ivy; and, many other descendants of the Ward family.

The family would like to thank Dr. Clifton Baker and his associates; Belinda Thomas and Cathy Shuskey; and, the ladies of the Love Cathedral Church, for their dedication and skill caring for Evelyn. We are all indebted to Bill Ward, whose care and management over the years enabled Evelyn to stay in the surroundings she loved.