With grieving hearts, we announce the sudden passing of Benjamin Jared Ward, age 54, on Monday, August 19, 2024 at his home in Eureka from a heart attack. Ben was born on July 28, 1970 in Oakland to Brutus and Linda Ward. He was the second of seven children.

Ben spent most of his childhood in Richmond and attended El Cerrito High School there. He was an explorer and loved to go hiking in the nearby Wildcat Canyon. Ben was a natural born athlete and played basketball, football and baseball. He loved to roller skate and he and his sister Beth put on little skating exhibitions in the backyard for the neighborhood children. Ben always loved to cook.

Ben was a handsome man. He was tall — 6’ 4” — and had thick brown hair. When the family moved to Eureka, he made lots of new friends. Ben joined Job Corps and increased his cooking skills. He was able to attend the Maritime Culinary Institute on Treasure Island, where he earned the title of Chef. He has cooked in many restaurants over the years.

On a trip to Idaho he met Shelly Gerry and together they welcomed a daughter, Jordynn, into their lives. Eventually Ben moved back to Eureka and met Tracy Marshall. They were married and have four beautiful daughters.

Ben had lived in Hoopa and for a brief while in Tennessee. He lived in Eureka for the last 13 years after his divorce and took care of his mother. Ben learned how to identify all the safe mushrooms and some of his favorite times were spent out in the woods hunting for mushrooms. He enjoyed volunteering at Reggae on the River and loved reggae music. He loved to go crabbing with his daughters and taught them how to cook and bake. His specialty was baking chocolate chip cookies and chocolate crinkles. He taught the fine art of cooking a good steak to his children and to several of his nephews and nieces. Ben gave cooking demonstrations in Church activities. Ben was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Ben loved to sing and his favorite song that he sang to his children was “Puff, the Magic Dragon.” He enjoyed writing poetry and reciting it to others. Ben had an infectious laugh and everyone knew when he entered a room. He gave the greatest hugs. He liked to sit on his front porch and greet all the passersby and made many more friends that way. He knew the neighbors and enjoyed chatting with them.

Ben’s great love was his family. He would say that whenever they spoke on the phone they would always close with the words “I love you.” He didn’t like to hold grudges and was into forgiving others.

Ben is survived by his mom Linda of Eureka and his father Brutus and step-mother Linda of Kneeland; his siblings Dan and his wife Lisa, Beth and her husband Mike, Jenni and her husband Wayman, Matt and his wife Melanie, Rachel and her husband Pete, and his sister Dorothy; and his Uncle Robert and Aunts Jeannie and Lulu.

Ben leaves behind his five daughters; Jordynn, Michaela, Madelyn, Cameryn, and Ava (Sage); his nephews Chase, Jasper, Trevor, Oscar, Israel, Isley, Connor, Teddy, Elijah, Terrance, Daedrick, and Homer; his nieces Tessa, Teardra, Taylor, Bella, Isaylia, Isareina, Seraphina, and Tiffany (Blu); and many great-nephews and great-nieces.

We would also like to include his many friends and especially his friend Ulysses Yount who has been a brother to him for many years.

Ben, we will miss you so much. We weren’t ready to say good-bye so soon. We will carry you in our hearts always.

We would like to invite his friends and family to his funeral and celebration of life on Saturday, August 31, 2024 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2806 Dolbeer St, Eureka, CA 95501 (next to St. Joseph Hospital). The viewing will be at 10 a.m., with a service at 11 a.m. A reception/luncheon will follow. Please feel free to come and share your memories of Ben.

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