Yoko (Ann) Ward, 87, of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, passed away on June 14, 2015, of heart failure after a brief hospital stay.Yoko was born in Fukuoka, Japan on March 7, 1928. Yoko was married to Edward Sidney (Cotton) Ward on July 25, 1956; they were married 30 years before his death in January of 1986. Yoko came to America from Japan with Cotton and their daughter Patty in November 1957 where they first settled in Oglesby, Texas, Cotton's hometown. The residents of Oglesby accepted Yoko with open arms and this became her home which she returned to often. She lived in Oglesby in the late 60's (on what is now College Avenue) when Cotton was stationed in Thule Air Base, Greenland, and again, briefly, in the late 80's (on Baird Street) after his death. Yoko had a large vegetable garden there on College Avenue and was known for her green thumb. She was also an accomplished seamstress. She loved western swing music, especially the steel guitar (which Cotton played) and the fiddle (which Pete Ward played). Her favorite country artists were Johnny Gimble, Willie Nelson, and Hank Williams.Cotton's career in the United States Air Force moved he and Yoko and family several times; from Oglesby to Harlingen, Texas, the U.S. territory of Guam, Biloxi, Mississippi, Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, Illinois, and finally to Ocean Springs, Mississippi where Cotton retired from the Air Force in 1969. Yoko had the opportunity to return to Fukuoka, Japan, to visit her family in 1986 and again in 1988.Yoko is survived by her children, Patty Skinner, Luther (P'Bo) Ward, and Louine (Lulu) Ward Beall, and grandchildren, Tracy Guy, Melanie Mowry, Lilah Ward Shepherd, and Darrell Ward, as well as five great-grandchildren. Yoko is preceded in death by her husband, Sidney (Cotton) Ward, mother-in-law, Mildred Ward, and father-in-law, Pete Ward. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Southern Care in Lucedale, Karen Richards, Miss Aileen, and Miss Jessie, Dr. Karen Mullin and all the caring staff at the Ocean Springs Hospital. Visitation will be held from 12:30 – 1:30 pm on Sunday, June 21st at Cole Funeral Home in McGregor, Texas. Burial will follow the visitation at Eagle Springs Cemetary at 2:00 pm. For what is it to die, but to stand in the sun and melt into the wind? And when the Earth has claimed our limbs, then we shall truly dance. -- Kahlil Gibran