CAWARD*, Laura Mae

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Tuesday, April 07, 2015 Laura Mae Caward, a great lady of the American West and native daughter of Arizona, passed away April 3, 2015. Laura was a mother of 16 children and grandmother and great-grandmother to more that 100 children. Her 16 children are Laura Mae Milhoan, James L. Caward (deceased) Thomas D. Caward, Rose Ann McCoy, Doris V. Quijada, Clara L. Hawkins (deceased), Mary J. Shields, Judy H. Daggett, Lindy L. Huffman, Esther G. Bartley, George S. Caward, John M. Caward, Daniel B. Caward, Juanita F. Woods, Rhoda J. Richardson and Carol E. Fink. Laura's late husband, George Caward (a World War I veteran) called his wife "the woman with the understanding heart." All her children praised her. With a firm handshake that had the strength of a much younger person, Laura met life on her own terms with God as her guide; and he never failed her. She overcame hardship, grief and sorrow, trouble and problems with an uncommon determination and optimism that always gave her the upper hand. Her unwavering belief that God would bring her through all troubled waters and the rainbow would follow every storm was key to her joy and contentment. Indeed, Laura was never broken from any of the battles that life handed her, but rather those storms gave her perseverance that brought great character and ultimately greater faith. Laura's last months of life were spent at Las Fuentes Care Center in Prescott, Arizona. True to herself she accepted this change in stride. All those who cared for her saw her joy for life and her love for those who cared for her. Likewise, her caretakers were blessed to know her and many commented on their admiration for her. Born in 1915 in York, Arizona, Laura spent much of her young years in a covered wagon traveling from Arizona throughout the entire Southwest. She met her husband George in the Black Range Mountains of New Mexico where she was married in 1932. In 1933, Laura and George walked from Las Cruces, New Mexico to Cohocton, New York and back to New Mexico. That was only the beginning of a life packed with adventure and amazing accomplishment. She saw the great depression, World War II and the many other wars to the present. She endured the loss of her parents, her siblings, her husband, two children and some of her grandchildren. Through it all, to the very end, Laura's faith in her God remained solid and only grew stronger as she depended on him more and more. Joy and contentment never left her. She fought the good fight. She finished the race. Now Laura is safely home with her heavenly Father. A funeral service will take place at 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at the Prescott Church of Christ, 1495 E. Rosser St. in Prescott. A graveside service will follow at 10:30 a.m. at the Arizona Pioneers' Home Cemetery, 1300 Iron Springs Road in Prescott. Wakelin Family Funeral Homes were trusted with Laura's final arrangements. Please visit www.ruffnerwakelin.com for directions and to sign her guestbook. Information provided by survivors.