Palestine High School Alumni Association

12 / 04 / 1914  –  04 / 29 / 2010

Marie Ward Halbert, 95, longtime citizen of Jacksonville, passed away Thursday evening, April 29, 2010, at the Christopher House hospice facility in Austin of complications from a massive heart attack she suffered the previous Friday evening.

Born Dec. 4, 1914, in Gallatin, Marie was the third of Thomas Alvin Ward and Christianna Musslewhite Ward’s five children. While Marie was a young girl, her family relocated to Palestine where she graduated from Palestine High School in 1932. Pursuing further education, she graduated from Lon Morris College in Jacksonville in 1934. Marie’s 47-year marriage to Joel Gaylon Halbert began in Frankston after they eloped on June 26, 1935, just prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Army. During the time Gaylon served in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II, Marie was employed by Premier Oil Refinery in Cotton Valley, La., where she resided with her younger sister and brother-in-law, Mary Tom and Gilbert Pollard.

Upon conclusion of Gaylon’s tour of duty, they moved back to Frankston for a short time before relocating to Jacksonville. After their two children reached school age, Marie began her employment with First National Bank, now Austin Bank. After more than 25 years working for the bank, Marie retired in 1987. At the time she retired, she was vice president. Marie was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her older brother, Theo Ward who died as a child; her older sister, Madge Ward of Tyler; and her younger brother, James E. “Billy” Ward, a U.S. Army pilot killed in action in 1944. Marie is survived by her two children and their spouses: son, Joel Gaylon Halbert Jr. and his wife Ellen; and daughter, Joan Halbert Shelton and her husband Mike, all of Austin. Her sole surviving sibling is her sister Mary Tom Williford of Katy. Many nieces and nephews from both sides of the family will cherish fond memories of their Aunt Marie.

In addition, she leaves behind Ms. Kitty, who will (at staff request) remain at The Summit of Northwest Hills in Austin to continue her very important work with Alzheimer’s patients.

Besides being a cat-lover, Marie provided room and board to many a backyard songbird. She took great pleasure in flowers and gardening, and only during such tasks might you see this always-stylish lady without every hair in place. Marie enjoyed travel and delighted in sharing her experiences – what a storyteller she was! Anyone who broke bread with the Halberts will also remember her as an excellent cook and gracious hostess.

As a member of the First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville, Marie belonged to the Alpha-Omega Sunday School Class. She was also a faithful constituent of several social and charitable organizations, including Entre Nous, the Nile Arts Club of Jacksonville, the Fun Travelers and the Sewing Club – a chatty group whose interest in actual stitchery projects reportedly fizzled out decades ago. Marie most treasured her involvement in an organization benefiting children’s hospitals – she was a member of the Marching Patrol of the Temple of the Daughters of the Nile (the ladies’ counterpart of Shriners). A loyal patron of the theater, Marie and her season-ticket-holding friends enjoyed countless performances staged by the Dallas Summer Musicals and other theater companies.

Services celebrating Marie’s life are scheduled for 1 p.m. on Monday, May 3, at Autry Funeral Home. Immediately after the service, a graveside memorial will take place at Resthaven Memorial Park, also in Jacksonville.

Memorial contributions may be made in Marie’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association or Christopher House Hospice care in Austin, Texas.

Send donations to Autry Funeral Home or visit the charities’ official websites.

Published in the Tyler Morning Telegraph on 5/3/2010