Hazel Lucile Luker (Shepard Ward), age 96, resident of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away surrounded by family and friends on August 10, 2026. Lucile was born on April 12, 1930, in Abilene, Kansas to James Abner Luker and Mary Elizabeth Butler.
As the oldest of the five Luker children, she found joy in loving and caring for people early in life. At the age of 9, Lucile and the Luker family moved to join the Uniontown community, which she would call home the majority of her life.
After graduating from Uniontown High School in 1948, Lucile moved to Kansas City to attend secretary school. She married Norman Smith on May 14, 1950. Three children were born to this union, Richard Michael, Ronald Keith, and Dena Diane. Lucile married Harvey Shepard on March 15, 1974, and three more children, Steve, Linda, and Chelle, were blessed to become hers also.
After 10 years of working for Western Insurance in Fort Scott, Lucile retired. Her retirement was filled with: hosting family and friends at she and Harvey’s home, many family pool parties, cooking with Gloria Luker at the restaurant in Uniontown, decorating with Mary Kaye Beaman, walking with Marilyn Holt, gathering with her friends weekly to play cards, attending school activities and sports events for her grandchildren, and caring for those around her. Lucile and Harvey enjoyed traveling around the United States and spending their winters in Texas with friends who would become family. Lucile was also active at Paint Creek Church where she played the piano and loved being involved with and planning church events. Lucile suffered a great loss with Harvey’s unexpected passing in 2000.
Lucile married Loren Ward on March 8, 2003. They enjoyed an active life in Uniontown together. Lucile was known for her generosity and kindness. She would often surprise friends and neighbors with one of her delicious pies. Lucile moved to Fort Scott in 2019. In her new home, she was surrounded by new neighbors who would become special friends.
Lucile hosted what the family would call “Noodlefest” for 51 years. There would regularly be more than 50 close family members in attendance to enjoy her famous chicken and noodles. Lucile was a woman of strength, character and an example of love.
Survivors include: two sons, Ron Smith (Stacy) of Blue Springs, MO, Steve Shepard (Debbie) of Uniontown, KS, and three daughters, Dena Felt of Fort Scott, KS, Linda Noll (Matt) of Fort Scott, KS, and Chelle Eden (Doug) of Fort Scott, KS. She is survived by 18 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren. Also surviving is a sister Phyllis Randall (David) of Grandview, MO and brother Eldon Luker of Fort Scott, KS, along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by an infant son Richard Smith, her parents, two sisters Yvonne (Bonnie) Christy, Lois Wynn, and a brother Kenneth Luker.
Pastors Seth Bolling and David Randall will conduct funeral services at 10:00 AM, Thursday, August 20th, at Community Christian Church, Fort Scott, KS. Burial will follow at the Uniontown Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Wednesday, August 19th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.