Sarah Ann Ward passed away at her home in Shawnee, Oklahoma on Sunday, June 5, 2016, at the age of 72 years.

Sarah was the daughter of Elliott Leitka & Cora (Buck) Leitka, born on May 11, 1944, in Wewoka, Oklahoma. As a young girl she was brought up and attended schools in Wewoka, Stillwell, and Vian, before the family moved to Okmulgee in 1960. Sarah graduated Okmulgee High School with the Class of 1962, and moved to Lawrence, Kansas where she attended Haskell Institute for two years. She returned home for a short time and then moved to California and worked for the IRS for several years before moving back to Oklahoma. She lived for a while in Clinton while working in Weatherford, moved to Seminole, and then to Shawnee. She worked three years for the IRS in Oklahoma City, and for 29 years as a secretary for the BIA.

Sarah was married to Beaver Ward on February 11, 1985, in Shawnee, where they made their home. She and Beaver enjoyed bowling and were active members of various leagues. Sarah loved playing Bingo, and in her younger years loved softball and playing Catcher. She also played piano, and spent many summers in Bible School at various churches and at Falls Creek, and traveling and playing piano with her father, who was a Baptist minister. She loved music and singing, and was a former member of Native Praise Choir.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Elliott & Cora Leitka; four sisters: Ruthie Burgess, Wanda Jones, Betty Jo Leitka, and Lila Sue Leitka.

She is survived by her husband of thirty-one years, Beaver Ward, of the home; two children, Michael Ray Miller (Nancy) of Jenks, and Kathyrn Ruth Miller of Okmulgee; four stepchildren: Nicholas Ward of Seminole, Kimberly Vermillion of Shawnee, Robin Perry of Seminole, and Regina Ward of McLoud; eight grandchildren: T. J. Miller, Serena Miller, Cade Yazzie, Robert Campbell, Randal Campbell, Maria Frye, Justin Vermillion, and Candice Nicole Shaw; seven great grandchildren; one brother, Elliott Leitka Jr. (Jane) of Okmulgee, and one sister, Loretta Denny (Milton) of Glenpool; half sister Betty Passah of OKC, and half brother Eugene Leitka of Albuquerque NM; numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives, and many friends.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, June 9, 2016, 2:00 p.m. at the Wewoka Indian Baptist Church, and Sarah was laid to rest in the Buck Cemetery north of Wewoka. Rev. Curtis Kinney and Rev. Bill Barnett were the officiating ministers. Pallbearers were Mychal Wood, T. J. Miller, River Postoak, Morgan Pascale, Anthony Ramirez, Cade Yazzie, and Joseph Burgess. Honorary pallbearers were Jason Fourkiller, Terry Jones, Charlie Denny, Edward Wood, Kyle Gipp, and Jeff Burgess.

Wake service was held on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, 7:00 p.m. at the Wewoka Indian Baptist Church.