- Date Of Birth: February 22, 1964
- Date Of Death: March 6, 2018
- State: Colorado
Mindy Watson Ward passed away on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, of causes incident to cancer. She went to join her beloved Daddy on his birthday. She was surrounded by family in the beautiful home that she made. Mindy was born February 22, 1964, to John E.A. Watson and Carolyn Rosin (Hunt) in Concordia, Kansas. She was raised in Montana and Alaska. She graduated from Billings West High School and received her undergraduate degree from Montana State University in 1986. Mindy married Herman Heard on April 23, 1990, in Denver, Colorado. They had two children who she loved immensely. Mindy and Herman later divorced. Mindy married John Newell Ward III on August 23, 2008, in Rome, Italy. John and Mindy made homes in Broomfield and Arvada, Colorado. Mindy started her career in education, quickly moving through the ranks from teacher to principal, including opening a charter school focused on academic excellence. She then transitioned to the energy industry, using her education expertise to organize executive conferences. She joined Rio Tinto Energy America as marketing and sales manager in 2006 and stayed with the company as it transitioned to become Cloud Peak Energy. Most recently, Mindy served as director of marketing, communications and government affairs for the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration. Mindy is survived by her husband, John; son, Elias J. Heard; and daughter, Madison R. Heard (all Arvada, Colorado); mother, Carolyn Hunt (Ramsey, Minnesota); sisters Jennifer R. Watson (Fort Collins, Colorado) and Janna M. Smits (Bob) (Chesapeake, Virginia); brother Jerrod D. Watson (Robin) (Loveland, Colorado); former husband, Herman (Broomfield, Colorado); step-daughter with Herman, Danielle Jones (Mike) and her daughter, Olivia (New Town, North Dakota); step-children with John, John N. Ward (Kim) and their sons Jack and Mick (Mexico City, Mexico); Melissa Jean and her daughter Kya and son J.D. (Nashville, Tennessee); Jesse W. Ward (Salt Lake City, Utah); Adam J. Ward (Denver, Colorado); and Olivia J. Chatterton (Ryan) and their daughter Ada (Springville, Utah.) Mindy was preceded in death by her father, John Watson, whose ashes will be interred with her; and her step-father, Harold Ralph Hunt. A viewing open house will be conducted Sunday, March 11, 2018, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Horan & McConaty, 7577 W. 80th Ave., Arvada, CO 80003.
