ELIZABETH COLWELL WARD
1937 – 2025
Elizabeth Colwell Ward was born on July 25,1937, as the youngest of four daughters to Ethon Monroe and Della Mae Risinger Colwell.
She had fond memories of spending time with her grandparents, visiting with cousins and watching her mother cook. The month she turned nine, Elizabeth’s world changed dramatically with the unexpected death of her mother. She went to live in Houston with her oldest sister and brother- in-law, Carline and Bill Marshall. The next year, two days after her 10th birthday, her nieces Ladelle and Janelle were born and brought a bright spot to her life. While living in Houston, Elizabeth attended Edison Jr. High. She was a good student, which allowed her to advance a year in school. She returned to Madisonville to finish her education and graduated from Madisonville High School in 1954. Elizabeth attended business school in Houston then returned to Madisonville where she worked at Farmer’s State Bank for two years.
In June 1956, she was introduced to Mr. Jack Ward from Centerville.
After their marriage in May 1957, Elizabeth joined Jack in Rockdale where he was currently living and working. She worked for Mr. H.H.
“Pete” Coffield until she and Jack welcomed their first child, Lila, in 1960, at which time she became a homemaker. Daughter, Sonja, came along in 1962 and son Darrel completed the family in 1964. In early 1967, the family moved to Madisonville to help Elizabeth’s father with his cattle and farming operation.
Elizabeth was a very active member in the First Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School, and was a member of the United Methodist Women for a time, serving as president of the organization for three years. She was also involved in the start of the Son Shine Center.
During the years, Elizabeth was active in Young Homemakers and the
Madison County Genealogical Society, and she was a charter member of the John R. Haynie chapter of the DRT – serving in officer roles in all three organizations. She was an active member of the Greenbrier Cemetery Association and served for a time as secretary/treasurer, and later as historian.
Later in life, she was a Watkins Independent Representative for over 20 years and worked for several years at the Madison County Library. She was a wonderful seamstress and a fantastic cook. She enjoyed reading, especially items of historical interest and loved to travel to historic places.
She was an avid genealogist and wrote many of her family’s stories for volumes I & II of the Madison County History books. Spending time with her family, especially her sisters, was a favorite pastime. She loved John Wayne movies, and Waylon Jennings and Alan Jackson music.
After struggling with dementia for several years, Elizabeth passed peacefully into the arms of her precious Lord and Savior, on June 13, 2025.
There she was welcomed by her parents Ethon and Della Mae Colwell, sister Jacqulyn Colwell, sisters and brothers-in-law Carline and Bill Marshall and LaVerne and Herbert VanShellenbeck, daughter Sonja Ward, and sonin- law Casey Robertson.
Elizabeth is survived by her daughter Lila Robertson, and son Darrel Ward (Dee), all of Madisonville, grandsons Seth Loehr (Kindel) of Rosharon, Jordan Robertson (Kylie) of Lufkin, and Will Loehr (Leah) of Caldwell, and great grandchildren Faith, Ainsley, Declan and Emberly Loehr, and Owen and Baker Robertson.
She is also survived by six nieces and nephews and their families, as well as other family and friends.
Services for Elizabeth Ward will be held Friday, June 20, 2025, at the First Methodist Church in Madisonville. Visitation begins at 1 p.m., service at 2 p.m., followed by the burial at Greenbrier Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First Methodist Church, 102 S. McIver St., Madisonville, TX 77864 or the Greenbrier Cemetery Association, P. O. Box 245, Madisonville, TX 77864 Pallbearers are Seth Loehr, Jordan Robertson, Will Loehr, Karl VanShellenbeck, James VanShellenbeck and Bill Manning.
Honorary Pallbearers are Glenn VanShellenbeck, Freddy Gibson and Neil Walter.
