SIKESTON, Mo. -- Vivian Christine "Butchie" Ward, 65, of Sikeston died Monday, Sept. 29, 2003, at her home.

She was born Dec. 21, 1937, in Osceola, Ark., the daughter of Coleman and Mamie Lusk Lannum. She married John E. Ward on May 28, 1955, at Hernando, Miss. He survives.

She was a retired postmaster, serving at Morehouse, Mo., from 1979 until retiring in 1992. She was a member of Rauch-Spence Methodist Church in Morehouse.

She is survived by two sons, Johnny Ward of Sikeston and Tim Ward of Dexter, Mo.; a daughter, Annette O'Hara of Sikeston; two sisters, Lita Palmer of West Covina, Calif., and Eva Gill of Blytheville, Ark.; a brother, Cole Lannum of Blytheville; and seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday with the Rev. Kenneth Biggs, pastor of First General Baptist Church in Dexter, officiating.

Burial will be at Sikeston Memorial Park Cemetery.