Donnie Ray Ward, 82, of Alvarado passed away on January 28, 2026, doing what he loved. He was born July 19, 1943, in Blum, Texas, to Leta McNatt Ward and Roy Harris Ward. He was the third of six children and was later raised in Cleburne with his siblings Wanda, Leta Faye, Roy, Shirley, and Mike.

Donnie loved baseball, fishing, and hunting, and began working at a young age. He took great pride in his career and retired in 2006 after more than 30 accident-free years as a truck driver with Red Arrow Freight, later known as ABF Freight.

In 1966, he married Janet Marie Paul. They became parents to Kimberly in 1968 and Amy Renee in 1971 and raised their daughters in Alvarado, where the girls were active in 4-H showing steers and heifers. Later in life, Don married Judy Stalcup, and they remained together until her passing in 2013. Don enjoyed raising cattle and horses. During retirement, he also started "The Hay Empire" on Ward Farms, trading round bales of hay for many years. Well known around town, personally or as "the hay man", he never met a stranger.

Don is survived by his daughter Kim Ward Bourne of Grandview and her children Cody Michael Bourne, Cory Shayne Bourne, and Taylor Don Ward; his wife Jessica Woodard Ward and their son William Don Ward; his youngest daughter Amy Renee Cooksey and her husband Kevin Cooksey and their daughter Jordan Lynn Cooksey; and Barbara Marie Allen Ellis and her husband Rendon and their children Cameron James Ellis, Hannah Kate Ellis, Addison Rae Ellis, and Spencer Hayes Ellis along with numerous nieces and nephews and their children, and countless amount of friends and acquaintances.

He was preceded in death by his wife Judy, his sisters Wanda and Leta Faye, and his brother Roy, and their parents Leta and Roy. Donnie will be buried at Rosehill Cemetery next to Judy and his parents,

Graveside services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 in Rosehill Cemetery.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 6-8:00 p.m., Monday, February 2, 2026 at Rosser Funeral Home in Cleburne.