Nancy Jane (Ward) Zaring

Nancy Jane (Ward) Zaring, 86, Nevada, Mo., passed away Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014, at Moore-Few Care Center, in Nevada. Nancy was born July 22, 1927, in El Dorado Springs, Mo., to Fred Foster Ward and Lola Irene (McMillan) Ward. She was united in marriage to Stanley Pettibon in the 1940s and he preceded her in death. They had one son, Jerald Stanley Pettibon. Later she and Kenneth Zaring were married on Dec. 30, 1955, in Nevada, and he preceded her in death in August 1976. To this union one son, Kenneth Steven Zaring, was born.

Nancy scarcely survived pneumonia at age 3 and carbon monoxide poisoning at age 10 when the old '28 Chevy she was in became stuck in the mud. During grade school, she attended a country school. Then Nancy and her family moved to Nevada where she graduated from Nevada High School. Following graduation, she went to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company where she worked until the company left Nevada. Nancy then went to work at the switchboard for Nevada State Hospital and worked there until her stroke in 1976, one month following Kenneth's death. Her stroke left her in a coma for weeks, paralyzed on her right side, and she has been in the nursing home since that time.

Nancy lived in Walker all of her married life and in addition to her work as an operator was also a wonderful homemaker. She was a member of the Walker Christian Church for many years. Nancy enjoyed gardening, playing cards, and was a great baker and cook.

Survivors include one son, Kenneth Steven Zaring and Greta, Ft. Collins, Colo.; two granddaughters, Laura Zaring, Fayetteville, Ark., and Annelise Zaring, Ft. Collins, Colo.; one grandson, Jerald Pettibon Jr. and Melissa, Aurora, Colo.; several great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by one son, Jerald Pettibon; one granddaughter, Schelly; and four sisters, Jessie Olive, Kathleen Berry, Mae Neal, and June Barttrum.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, March 3, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada. Interment will follow in Newton Burial Park, Nevada. The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m., Monday, prior to the service at the funeral home.

Contributions may be made in her memory to the Walker Christian Church in care of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.