Ada Angelene Ward

Ada Angelene (Harris) Ward passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 27th surrounded by loved ones at home after a short battle with cancer. Ada was born in Omak, WA to Don and Angie Harris. Labor began on Friday night during the celebrated Okanogan VS. Omak football game. It was a struggle to get Don to leave the game but Ada waited to arrive until the following day. From that moment, she was an avid Bulldog supporter. Ada was the oldest of three girls with sisters Norma Jean and Janet Marie. After spending a few years away in both Grand Coulee and Ephrata, Ada and family returned to Okanogan and she graduated as an Okanogan Bulldog in the spring of 1968. In the fall, Ada attended Peterson’s School of Business in Seattle. She returned to work for a year at Mid Valley Hospital before leaving for Seattle once again. She worked at Harborview Medical Center and during this time is when she volunteered to help some friends who owned a restaurant in Brinnon, WA. One evening, Ada spotted Phil across the room in his plaid outfit and announced to her friends that he was the man she was going to marry. They married in November of 1973 and shared exactly 49 years of marriage. While living in Brinnon in the spring of 1975, they welcomed daughter, Marci. The family of three moved to Okanogan in 1976 with the birth of son, Mikel following in the spring of 1977. Ada worked at Mid Valley Hospital, Mid-Valley Bank and also had an in-home daycare. She worked for Omak School District for one school year as the JOM tutor before landing at the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office to include time as the Emergency Services Coordinator for Okanogan County. Ada was active on both the Okanogan School Board and the Okanogan City Council. She went to work for Jackie Bradley in the Okanogan County Clerk’s Office and served as a Juvenile Court Clerk for 20+ years before her retirement in 2014. Ada enjoyed the outdoors and camping with family and friends. She doted on and spoiled her grandbabies every minute she spent with them. She attended many Bulldog sporting events over the years and loved to support kids! Ada is survived by her husband Phil, of Okanogan; her children Marci Prichard and Mikel Ward, both of Okanogan; her pride and joy, her grandchildren Mason and Emma Ward of Mansfield; her sister Janet Harris and family of Stockton, MO; her sister Norma Check and family of Boise, ID and her uncle Earl (Dean) Harris of Nespelem. Ada was preceded in death by her parents Don and Angie Harris of Riverside along with grandparents, aunts and uncles. At Ada’s request, there will be no services and her final resting place will be the Riverside Cemetery near family.

Ada Angelene Ward

October 8, 1949 - November 27, 2022