Shanna Lee (Vanover) Ward

Shanna Lee “Vanover” Ward, 50, of Kountze, TX passed away on Friday, August 7, 2020. Shanna was born in Beaumont, TX on July 15, 1970 to Van and Joan Vanover.

Shanna was a woman of many hats in her 50 years here on earth. A talented cosmetologist, Shanna helped innumerable clients to find their “look” for taking on life. The proud owner of “Cutting Up” in Lumberton for more than 30 years, Shanna knew just about everyone in town and truly never met a stranger. Outgoing and loving, her personality naturally put others at ease and drew people to her. Adventurous and active describes Shanna to a tee, always on the look out for a new adventure and ready to seize every chance to live life. As a child this adventurous and brave streak that defined her life was already evident; from riding horses, to barrel racing, or playing volleyball, she was always ready to try something new. This energetic zeal for life never took her too far from her beloved Daddy or her loving Momma. As Shanna grew older, she continued to build a beautiful and vibrant life and was blessed with her children who truly became her purpose and center in life. “Mother” and eventually “MeMe” would become the two best titles she would ever have the privilege of having. From being the best team mom for basketball and baseball teams that her children played on to having the reputation as the cool mom with all her children’s friends, Shanna was always there for her children. From playing with grand babies and lovingly counseling her children, to “junking” with her mom. She was constantly decked out in eccentric finds from her enormous collection of jewelry that helped express her inner joy even more. This vibrant spirit of Shanna’s was probably most visible when she was where she loved to be, on the water; a self-proclaimed “river rat” and “lake rat”, she loved Bandera especially. And her love of the water ended up being what caused the circumstances that finally connected Jesse Ward to Shanna. A sweeter love story could never have been written than the one that Shanna lived with Jesse. Supportive and loving in a way that healed past hurts, Shanna was able to bask in the reality of being genuinely loved until her last breath because of her husband Jesse.

While the loss of this bright light will be deeply felt by anyone who knew her, those that loved her best know the best way to carry on her memory is to live life to the fullest- just like she did.

Left to cherish her memory are her Husband Jesse Ward of Kountze; Children: Cody Sanders and wife Allison of Lumberton, Shelby Lynne Butler and husband Bryan of Mauriceville, Karley Harris and fiancée Lauren Bottoms of Kountze, Jonathan Ward of Bloomfield, NM, Samuel Ward of Baytown, and Jacob Ward of Livingston; Sisters: Robyn Reimer and husband Mark Busceme of Sour Lake, Shelley McDonald and husband Tim of Pearland; Grand Children: Lilly Sanders, Landry Sanders, Colt Butler, Case Butler; Nephew Ty Reimer; Nieces: Holley Moreau and Hayden McDonald; and her “4th Child” Sophia (a beloved chihuahua who was considered family).

She is preceded in death by her father Van Vanover.

To honor the life and memory of Shanna, the family will have a time of memorial visitation at Lumberton Family Funeral Home, 766 S. Main St., Lumberton, TX 77657, on Saturday, August 15, 2020 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

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