Steven Dierk Ward

Steven (Steve) Dierk Ward, of Etowah, went home to be with his beloved Lord Thursday, January 27, 2022. Born in Fort Leonard Wood, MO and raised in Guymon, OK, Steve served as pastor of Christian Covenant Church in McMinn County from 1986 until his death. He coached his sons and many others in Dixie Youth Baseball for 22 years, winning two TN state titles. He was an avid golfer and member at Ridgewood Golf Club. With his wife, he founded the Mideast TN Home Education Association, serving as Area Coordinator 1995-1999. He also served as Treasurer of the TN Home Education Association from 1998 until his death. He was active in the Pro-life movement in the Southeast. The passion of his life and his greatest talents lay in music. Under the baton of his father, a renowned band director at Guymon High School, Steve was named as first chair French Horn in the Oklahoma All-State Band four times in high school. He was an accomplished keyboardist as well, serving his church faithfully in leading music. He was first chair French horn for the Athens Community Band in the 1990s, travelling once to England with the group to perform in the city of London’s New Year’s Day celebrations. He also played the French horn with the Lee University Wind Ensemble as a community member under the baton of David Holsinger from 2002-2020. He was also a renowned construction contractor in East TN.

            Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Harry Vernon Ward and Margaret Harper Ward Quinn and by his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Brewer Ward. He is survived by: his wife, Susan Ector Ward of Etowah; his ten children and their spouses—Sarah Ward Montgomery (Kevin Montgomery), Michael Ward (Katherine Hughes Ward), Nehemiah Ward (Katherine Merchoff Ward), David Ward (Courtney Thompson Ward), Sabbath Ward Earp (Daniel Earp), Stephen Ward, Judah Ward (Cheyanne Adams Ward), Promise Ward, Mercy Ward, and Seth Ward; his 21 grandchildren—Abigail Alderman, Matt Kirkland, Nathan Kirkland, Tyler Kirkland, Asher Ward, Ari Ward, Ava Ward, Gracious Ward, Silas Ward, Justice Ward, Benjamin Morgan, Clarabeth Ward, Jonathan Ward, Gideon Ward, Zoe Ward, Nolan Earp, Evie Earp, Iris Ward, Lucius Ward, Liberty Ward, and Jovie Ward; his three siblings—Lisa Ward Rice, Jerry Ward, and Mike Ward; his aunt, Jean Ann Ward Fulmer; and by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

            Funeral service will be held 1:00 PM at Christian Covenant Church (117 County Road 616, Athens, TN 37303) with family friend David Bird officiating. The family will welcome friends to stay afterward for informal visitation. Burial details are TBD. In lieu of flowers, the Ward family is asking that donations be made in his name to A Way Out Ministries (www.awoministries.org), a non-profit organization that combats sex trafficking.