The angels appeared today, March 2, at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston to take Vivian Marie \Yahntquese\ Whitetree Ward after a courageous fight with illness to be with the Lord. Vivian was born September 24, 1944 at the Claremore Indian Hospital in Claremore, Oklahoma to Ernest and Mary Whitetree. She grew up near Grove, Oklahoma and attended school at Turkey Ford. After many struggles in life, she earned her GED then earned a BA in Sociology. She was a proud member of the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe in Oklahoma where her father once served as chief. Vivian had the looks of a princess, the courage of a tiger, the strength of an oak tree and a heart of gold. She loved God and charity work. Because of that compassion, she went on to earn a master's degree in chaplaincy. She volunteered and later worked as a CHAPLAIN at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa, Texas.Vivian's first love was God and her savior Jesus Christ. She adored her family and she poured her life into her grandchildren. She always loved to share her faith with others and serve them through Godly love.Vivian married William C. Ward, Jr. (Bill), the love of her life and her dedicated caregiver, September 29, 1973 in Big Spring, Texas. Her husband, Bill, selflessly cared for her for nine years after a traumatic stroke in 2005.She is preceded in death by her son, Kaylen Tym Norwood.Survivors include her husband, Bill; her son and his family, Kerry and Cristy Norwood and grandchildren, Cody and Kylie Norwood; her daughter, Kim Purrington and grandchildren, Rhianna and Lauren. \Mom, grandma, friend – you will forever be engraved on our hearts and in our minds – We love you!\ Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, March 8, 2014 at the Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel. Interment will follow at Trinity Memorial Park.The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Friday, March 7, 2014 at the Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home in Big Spring.Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences may be made at: www.npwelch.com,
