Funeral services for Beatrice Murl Ward, a longtime Coalgate resident, were held Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at Coalgate Linton Gym. Burial was in the Ward Cemetery with arrangements under the direction of Brown’s Funeral Service of Coalgate.

Mrs. Ward was born March 1, 1938, in Pitkin, Louisiana, to Ira Coreilus Maddox and Lucy Arlene Deason Maddox. She died October 6, 2026, in Lane, Oklahoma, at the age of 88 years, eight months and five days.

She was quite a surprise when she arrived on her twin brother Burl’s heels. The doctor delivered Burl and started to leave, but was called back because something was wrong. He then delivered Murl and joked that he added her for free.

She and Burl had a lifelong, close relationship, especially considering they spent most of their adult lives living in different states.

She was the second oldest (by mere minutes) and was close to all six of her siblings. She attended Pitkin schools where she played the snare drum in the band and graduated in 1956. Her first job was making paper bags at the local bag factory. She enjoyed going to rodeos and she met J.C. Ward at a rodeo produced by her neighbor Donald Perkins. They both had stubborn, strong personalities, but they formed a marriage partnership that lasted for more than 50 years until J.C.’s death in early 2013. They had four children in six years – Wes, Terry, Jaylene and Cody.

J.C. was a rodeo producer and stock contractor before they married, but Murl was an important part of Ward Rodeo Co. Murl filled many roles over the years from feeding and watering the livestock, to taking entries and serving as the rodeo secretary. For the hundreds of rodeos held at their home arena, she prepared the food for the concession stand. Her burgers were called Murlie burgers and her rodeo chili was famous. Her presence at the admission gate to rodeos both at home and across the region was legendary. She took no excuses and could teach any rodeo committee how to handle the gate for maximum profit and efficiency.

Murl also served for many years as the secretary for the Oklahoma Junior Rodeo Association, which she and J.C. founded along with three others in 1989. They produced youth rodeos for years, many of which were held at their arena northeast of Coalgate. She also kept up with the association standings and worked to obtain sponsorships and awards for the young cowboys and cowgirls.

Well into her 80s, Murl remained very involved with the rodeo business. She owned most of the bucking bulls featured at the company’s rodeos and until last year still took entries for some of the rodeo events. Although her kids convinced her to stop doing the daily feeding, she continued to water the animals at the ranch until her health prevented it.

She was known for her cooking – especially fish with a Louisiana flavor and all kinds of pie. Her coconut cream pie was a favorite and she always cooked bread for the Manor Bazaar fundraiser.

When Cody started kindergarten, she began working at Coalgate Public Schools. Murl spent 31 years working in the cafeteria and as a custodian before she retired.

She sold poinsettias for the holidays and ran a nursery full of other plants for several years.

A longtime member of the First Methodist Church of Coalgate, Murl was known for working hard, no matter whether she was at the school, at home, at a rodeo, or just about anywhere else. After she retired, she spent a few years driving to Fittstown and helping her nieces with their western Christmas business. Murl is survived by her four children - Wes Ward of Coalgate, Oklahoma; Terry Ward and wife Debbie of Allen, Oklahoma; Jaylene Roberts and husband Frank of Lane, Oklahoma; and Cody Ward of Coalgate, Oklahoma. Grandchildren Jayla Roberts of Lane, Oklahoma; Richie Roberts of Jenks, Oklahoma; Taylor Ward and wife Sara Myers of Georgetown, Texas; Shawntel Casey and husband Kendall of Stuart, Oklahoma; Tyler Ward of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Jacy Payne and husband Brady of Stephenville, Texas; Tarryn Ward and significant other Brannon Murphy of Savanna, Oklahoma; Garen Ward of McAlester, Oklahoma; Kenley Ward of Stephenville, Texas, and Lily Ward of McAlester, Oklahoma. Great grandchildren Eden Ellis and husband Ben of Antlers, Oklahoma; Will Hill of Rattan, Oklahoma; Stryker Henderson of Stuart, Oklahoma; Loudyn and Teal Casey of Stuart, Oklahoma; Paris and Styles Payne of Stephenville, Texas; Jayda and Kaia Murphy of Savanna, Oklahoma, and great-great granddaughter Steely Ellis of Antlers, Oklahoma. Twin brother Burl Maddox and wife Sandra of Grant, Louisiana; brother Benny Maddox and wife Carolyn, and sister Carolyn Cook and husband Larry, all of Pitkin, Louisiana. Stepsons Johnny Ward and wife Debbie, Benny Ward and wife Cheri and Bob Ward, all of Coalgate, Oklahoma, and Randy Ward of Broken Bow, Oklahoma. Sisters-in-law Barbara Girod of Glenpool, Oklahoma; Maxine Pulliam of Bristow, Oklahoma; Betty Ward of Coalgate, Oklahoma; brothers-in-law Jim Ward and wife Carol of Pittsburg, Oklahoma; Doug Ward of Coalgate, Oklahoma; and Vernon Ward of Fittstown, Oklahoma, along with many step-grandchildren and great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends and rodeo family.

She was preceded in death by parents Ira and Lucy Maddox; husband J.C. Ward; great grandson Arlis Bruesch; great granddaughter Katyn Ward; sister Gail Durbin, brothers Sheryl and Keith Maddox and stepsons Dan, A.J., Roy and Stan Ward.

Pallbearers were Richie Roberts, Taylor Ward, Tyler Ward, Garen Ward, Stryker Henderson, Will Hill, and Loudyn Casey.

Honorary pallbearers were Teal Casey, Styles Payne, Ben Ellis, Jayla Roberts, Shawntel Casey, Jacy Payne, Tarryn Ward, Kenley Ward, Eden Ellis, Lily Ward, Paris Payne, Jayda Murphy, Kaia Murphy, Steely Ellis, Kendall Casey, Bambi Meredith, Crystal Smith, Tammy Hedgecock, Candy Griffin, Johna Cravens, Dayna Cravens, Ann Palmer, Peggy Clements, Brian Ward, Patty Maddox, Christy Martin, Cathy Bennett, Jannie Elam, Teresa Graham and Lorna Brown.