Jean Ward

Cashiers, NC - Jean Ward was born December 23, 1941 in Louisville, KY. She grew up in Atlanta, GA and spent her teenage summers in Cashiers teaching horseback riding.

In 1975, she returned and enrolled in an EMT class at the Glenville Rescue Squad where she met Charles Ward. They were married in Oct. 1976. She was the first woman to join a rescue squad in Western North Carolina as an EMT.

In 1978, she started Home and Land Maintenance, Cashiers Carpet Cleaners, Cashiers Garage Door and Western Carolina Restoration. In Nov. 1988, Jean was listed in The Cleaning and Restoration, the official RIA Publication International as one of six ladies of the '80's in the cleaning industry. She loved her dogs. She operated Cashiers K9 Camp where she boarded dogs for a number of years. She worked 11 years as a tech for the Cashiers Village Vet.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Leonard Long and Florence Major Long; two sons, Shawn Goodwin and Todd Goodwin, and a daughter, Jeanne Caruthers.

She is survived by her husband of 36 years, Charles Ward; Charlene Ward and Jay Webster of Cashiers, Jodi Bayes and Brad Bayes of Orange Park, FL and Dawn Woodring; 10 grandchildren; two step grandchildren, one great grandchild, and one brother, Major Long of Cashiers.

Jean is a member of Cashiers United Methodist Church; she helped organize the Cashiers Chamber of Commerce, and along with Jackie Wynn organized the Cashiers Christmas Parade for several years.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, June 29, 2013 at 2:00 pm at Cashiers United Methodist Church with Rev. Randy Harry officiating. The family will receive friends Saturday from 1:00 2:00 pm, one hour prior to the service, at the church.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Lewis Rathbun Wellness Center, 121 Sherwood Road, Asheville, NC 28803 or Four Seasons Hospice, 171 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Highlands, NC 28741

Bryant Grant Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences are available by visiting bryantgrantfuneralhome.com or by email.