TRELLA MAE WARD

ADVANCE -- Trella Mae Ward, 68, of Advance, formerly of Zalma, died Monday, Dec. 23, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center.

She was born Oct. 28, 1928, in Zalma, daughter of August and Eula Thomas Pape. She married Carl Ward on June 2, 1942, in Arkansas. He survives her.

She and her husband were foster parents for more than 25 years and cared for 40 children during that time. She was a member of the Brush Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Arab, a Sunday school teacher and pianist at the church. She was a graduate of Zalma High School.

She is survived by her mother; a son, Conrad Ward of Advance; two daughters, Regena Smith of Jackson and Janet Finn of Marble Hill; three brothers, Charles and Tom Pape, both of Zalma, and Mike Pape of Cape Girardeau; three sisters, Jennie Gaither and Mary Lynn Baker, both of St. Louis, and Sharon Sturgeon of Zalma; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a foster daughter.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Morgan Funeral Chapel in Advance. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at the chapel, with the Rev. Bill Sargent officiating. Burial will be in Berrong Cemetery in Gipsy.