De Etta L. Ward

De Etta Landis Ward, of Littleton, Colorado died at the age of 74 on July 14, 2022 in her home with her family. She was born on November 25, 1947 too Kenneth and Blanche (Taylor) Landis in Walters, Oklahoma. De Etta grew up in Duncan Oklahoma. She graduate from Oklahoma State University in 1970 with a B.S in Home Economics and returned to Duncan to teach home economics and was nominated Oklahoma Teacher of Year in 1973. De Etta married David Ward on March 6, 1971 in Duncan where they met at a square dance over 51 years ago.
De Etta is a polymath “an individual whose knowledge spans a substantial number of subjects, known to draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific problems.” De Etta earned an M.A. in Family Relations from Iowa University. She had her daughter Hilaire while living in Clinton Iowa. A J.D. from Sturm College of Law - University of Denver and was licensed to practice law in Colorado. Some how in between those degrees she attend Oklahoma University and Louisiana State University each for two credit hours and was in pursuit of a degree from the Bastyr University of naturopathic medicine in Seattle Washington (recognized globally for its rigorous curriculum and leading-edge research). De Etta also had formal training in mediation at the Center for Dispute Resolution in Boulder, Colorado, Certificates from the Culinary School of the Rockies in Boulder, Master Italian Cooking Program in Jesi, Italy, Herbal School of Boulder, Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Denver
De Etta’s work was as varied as her education. Her last full teaching job was in Duncan; a substitute teacher, office administrator and placement agency in Florida; framed and matted pictures, and instructor for Eastern Iowa Community College to develop, taught and tested a college course in Marriage and the Family; Private Law Practice which included general civil legal issues such as litigation, drafting a variety of documents, dissolution of marriage, guardian ad litem, collections, evictions, probate; Contract Administrator for companies working for the federal government; human resources/employment law; legal counsel for a federal government contractor; Owner and operator of a herbal business; and a kitchen designer.
De Etta was smart, witty and easy to talk to. She was straight forward and assertive. When issues were ambiguous she could get clarification in a non-judgmental and assertive way. De Etta was a quick learner, had a keen insight into people, supportive and concerned about the relationships in families.
She enjoyed cooking, sewing, reading, playing and listening to music, racquet ball, family, traveling people, glass blowing, collecting herbs and making her own essential oils (with a still), tinctures and hydrofoils, and grinding her own split and other healthy grains. She was also into other healing modalities and owned crystal bowls (for vibration) for most of the 7 main chakras. De Etta had Parkinson’s and dementia for many years which prevented from doing many of the above items.
She is survived by David, her husband, Hilarie Foster, her daughter, Reid Foster and Bryn Foster her grandchildren and Kenneth K. Landis Jr., her bother, She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Kenneth and Blanche Landis.
There will a graveside funeral at 10 am on July 28, 2022 at Seven Stones Cemetery and a celebration of De Etta’s life at 12 pm at her family home.
Flowers are welcome but donations are preferred. Please make donations in memory of De Etta L. Ward to one of the following charities:
- A charity you are currently supporting or;
- Rocky Mountain Parkinson’s Association https://parkinsonrockies.org/
get-involved/donate/ or;
- American Brain Foundation https://www.americanbrainfoundation.org/