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Submitted: 8/21/22 • Approved: 8/21/22 • Last Updated: 8/24/22 • R1443846-G0-S3
August 7, 1933 - November 6, 2020
Gordon B. Ward, longtime resident of Longview, passed away at the age of 87 on November 6,
2020. He was born on August 7, 1933 in Rosebud, TX to the late Pleasant Selma Ward and
Mattie Lou (Bozeman) Ward.
Mr. Ward was a hard working man who provided well for his family that he loved. His work ethic
began at an early age. Gordon convinced the Ft. Worth Star Telegram to start a paper route 365
miles away in Hobbs, NM. He promised in a year the newspaper circulation would increase
significantly. Gordon would wake up at 2:00 in the morning and drive from his home in Temple to
Ft. Worth, pick up the papers and drive to Hobbs,NM to distribute the newspapers to newspaper
stands, machines, stores and residences. He started out with 700 copies and in only a year's
time he was delivering around 10,000. Gordon went on to work for Tobin Map Company as a
Map Cartographer drafting maps for cities, counties in the State of Texas. This part of his career
would begin a lifelong love of creating maps for everyone to use. He, along with his wife Mary
Jo, moved to Longview in 1962. Mr. Ward soon began working for Gregg County. He was
responsible for mapping and setting up the County Block System. Later, he became the
Director/Manager of the Data Processing/IT Department. His work was essential for the County.
He is credited for creating the first computer department for Gregg County. He also created the
first computerized delinquent tax roll payment for the State of Texas. Mr. Ward was a beloved
figure at the courthouse, making many, many dear friends along the way. Gordon retired after
32 plus years with the County in 1995. He was a member of Winterfield United Methodist
Church. Gordon was a do-it-yourself kind of man. He worked on his own vehicles, built an
addition to his home using the knowledge his father taught him, and surprised his family after he
retired when he began oil painting. Mr. Ward was preceded in death by his parents, brother
Lawrence Ward, sisters Francis Davidson and Beatrice Davidson. Gordon is survived by his
loving and devoted wife Mary Jo (Cammack) Ward; daughter Kim McLeod and her husband
Mike, daughter Mary Ellen Sexton and husband Lance Mason, son Stephen Ward;
grandchildren Andrew Sexton, Sean McLeod, Katie (McLeod) Buskar and Christian Henderson;
great-granddaughter Shipley Sexton, sister-in-law Dixie Ward and niece Nancy Davidson.
Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 10th at Rader Funeral Home in
Longview, TX. Graveside service 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 11th at Old Parkers Chapel
Cemetery in El Dorado, AR.
Contributed on 8/21/22 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 1443846