Johnny Mack Ward

         Funeral services for Johnny Mack Ward, will be held Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Shafer Funeral Home in Lufkin. Interment will be at Gann Cemetery with Military Honor Guard. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at Shafer Funeral Home.

          The family announces the passing of beloved Johnny Mack Ward, the last surviving son of Monroe Ward and Elsie McKinney Ward. Johnny Mack, 81 years of age, passed away peacefully in the arms of Jesus while in the wonderful care & ministry of Hospice in the Pines/CHI MH, Lufkin on 2/1/25. He was Baptist in faith & was a member of Bellaire Central Baptist & College Park Baptist churches. 

          Johnny was the youngest of three children born to Monroe & Elsie and raised in the red dirt of Redland, TX where he attended Redland schools. Johnny's family then moved to Mt. Pleasant, TX where he proudly enlisted in the United States Navy in 1961. 

           While on a weekend leave from Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, he met the love of his life in Lufkin, Velda Reeves who was a telephone operator at LTX. They were married shortly thereafter by the Reverend W.E. Forsythe on 7/20/62. Johnny Mack was then stationed on the USS Lexington in Pensacola, FL where he was deployed during the Cuban Missile Crisis. After the crisis, Velda relocated with their newborn son, Randall, after his birth in Lufkin, Johnny & family were then relocated to the USS Enterprise located in San Francisco, CA, however, it was immediately deployed to Combat Zone 3 in the South Pacific off the coast of Vietnam. He proudly served from 1965-1966 where he launched the 1st aircraft strike during the Vietnam War while on the USS Enterprise. He was a flight deck PO. The USS Enterprise was the world's first nuclear aircraft carrier and the USS Enterprise's aircraft flew over 7,000 strikes into North & South Vietnam. He suffered medical injuries on the USS Enterprise & was redeployed to Naval Air Station in Cecile Field, FL. Upon being medically retired from the Navy in 1968, Johnny & family moved to Bellaire, TX where he and his brother, Gerald, started Ward Auto Sales at the corner of Alabama & SW Freeway, Houston. Then on Christmas Day, 1968, he went to work for the SP Railroad in the clerical department for the next 29 years. During that time, he & friend Arthur Keepers formed A -1 Climate Control in Houston which they ran in their spare time. He retired from SP/UP in 1987 & moved his family to Sugar Land, TX where they lived on a lake. All his life, he was an AVID fisherman & outdoorsman. He especially loved to night fish with Velda & son Randy at his mom's lake camp at Sam Rayburn. He fished in many state tournaments & local tournaments. He & his fishing partner, J.W. Witten, won 1990 Angler of The Year East Texas & the 1990 Championship on Lake Falcon. Their prizes were 2 fully rigged Skeeter bass boats. He was a member of many bass clubs but his proudest was the Cleveland Bass Club where he formed many lifetime friendships. His nick name on the lake was “Knock Em Out John” for his fishing capabilities.

          He also enjoyed going to the Sam Houston Race Park & watching the horse races live at the Jockey Club. He formed many valued friendships while watching the horse races. After retirement, Johnny & Velda loved traveling and visited many southern states. They also enjoyed trying new restaurants and being with extended family on both sides of their families.

          Johnny was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. When he wasn't caring for his disabled brother Paul, or dear mother, Elsie, he could be found advising other disabled veterans about VA benefits available to them.

          Johnny truly NEVER met a stranger. He did not have a mean bone in his body & was the entertainment for any family function or gathering of friends. He could make anyone laugh and his stories and jokes were a treat for all.

         Additionally, Johnny was honored to be a veteran participant in the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress, the nation's oldest federal cultural institution in the nation. Johnny shared his memories of his time serving our country which have all been historically documented there for future generations.

         Other than the birth of his son, grandchildren & great children, his attendance at the decommissioning of the USS Enterprise, on which he proudly served, was one of the most memorable experiences of his lifetime.

         Johnny was preceded in death by his mother & father, grandson Kevin Cameron Ward, brothers Gerald, Paul, his grandparents, his brother in laws Gary Franklin and Glenn Rawlinson and sister-in-law, Cathy Thomas. Additionally, his beloved Jack Russell Terriers Dizzell & Harley Jo.

         Mr. Ward is survived by his wife of 62 years, Velda Ann. Son, Randall “Randy” Ward; brother Jeff Ward and sister Darla Kay Ward Brunner and her husband Samuel; grandson Kyle Ward; great grandchildren Gavin Christopher Ward and his mother Jessica Ward; twins Aiden and Cameron Ward and their mother Jessie Jordan and step grandson Hayden Samay; special nieces Denise Ward Bridwell, Sherra Boyd and Velda's sisters, Jerrie Brookshire and Dot Lyons and many other extended family who loved him. 

        The family wants to acknowledge Johnny's special fishing friends, Scott Hassell, Gary Szemborski and Al Anderson.

        Pallbearers will be Gary Szemborski, Mike Starkey, Steve Lyons, Jake Goodrum, Mario Danna and Lewis Bridwell.

        Honorary Pallbearers will be Rick Witten, Jimmy R. Kendrick, Jody Goodrum, Dwight Lyons, Scott Hassell and David Blum.

        Immediately after the funeral service, a luncheon provided by Rustica's, will be served prior to his burial at Shafer Funeral Home.

        Internment with Military Honor Guard Detail will be at Gann Cemetery, Pollok, Texas.

        The family extends special thanks to Hospice in the Pines and their incredible staff for their superb care of Johnny during his final days at CHI Memorial, Lufkin.

        Memories and condolences may be added, and live webcasting of the service may be viewed at the Shafer Funeral Facebook page.

        Memorial contributions in his memory may be made to: Hospice in the Pines, 1504 West Frank Avenue, Lufkin, Texas 75904. Gann Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 3022, Lufkin, Texas 75903. Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306.

        In closing, Johnny will be remembered for honorably serving his country in the U.S. Navy & in returning his bride Velda before his untimely passing, back to East Texas where he swept her from 62 years ago.

        Shafer Funeral Home, Lufkin directors.