Harlie Jean Ward, 75, of Ocala, FL passed away peacefully on the day of February 4, 2025, in Ocala, FL after a lengthy illness.

She was born in Ocala, FL, on February 13, 1949, to the late Franklin Wesley and Cora Lee Ward of Ocala, FL., who both predeceased her.

Harlie graduated from Ocala High School in 1967.  After graduating, she started working at the Marion County Clerk’s Office and excelled.  She really loved working there and became a proficient typist.  Later on, she and her husband opened a mobile home business that thrived in Ocala, FL.  Their family bought a home and they moved to Anthony, FL. but eventually she moved to Ormond Beach after her divorce.  While living in Ormond Beach Harlie used her typing skills and started transcribing medical records and, again, she excelled quickly.  One of her best skills besides typing was her penmanship.  When she wrote, her hands would just glide across the paper so elegantly feathering the letters so delicately one by one.  She could write different manuscript styles effortlessly.  No matter what career path Harlie took, she excelled with the skills the good Lord gave her, her brightness, andher common sense.  Several years after she had been living and working in Ormond Beach she had a health scare and had to returnback to Ocala where she resided for the rest of her life.

Throughout Harlie’s life one would describe her as full of life, fashionable, friendly, happy to be around, funny, sassy, and acoffee and milk-a-holic.  But make no mistake, that tiny 4 foot 11inch woman could make you feel shorter than her really quickly with just a side eye glance.  She could spank you faster than you realized what hit you, she would stand her ground against anyone twice her size, and she was a combination of a cantankerous spitfire all at once.  No matter what happened though she still wouldlove you with all her heart.  Harlie had a heart of gold even in the worst of times.  Her life may have been through some tough times but in the end she continued to fight to her very last breath making sure that her loved ones knew how much they meant to her.

Harlie loved the sun and water.  She always wanted to be close to the water and one of her dreams was to live by it.  She always talked about living somewhere with green grass and a fenced inyard not far from where the white diamond sand meets the tranquil aqua waters.  For now, we only hope that she is where she was always meant to be and that she is soaking up the sun in her beach chair sipping on her favorite vodka and grapefruit drink with a twist of lime.

She is survived by her son, Kevin (Amanda-lee) Tarrant, of Ocala, FL.,   her brother, Thomas (Dianne) Wesley Ward, of Lexington, SC., her niece, Megan (David) Wilkinson, of Sandy Springs, GA, and two nephews, Dale (Kari) Ward of Lexington, SC and Thomas “TJ” Ward of Myrtle Beach, SC.  Also, Harlie had several great nieces and a great nephew named Brianna, Amber, Caitlin, Kyndall, and Lucas as well as extended cousins and other family who currently lives in Chiefland, FL.

Harlie Jean Ward will be cremated.  A private memorial will be held for family at a later date and time. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Harlie Jean Ward to https://gofund.me/c5301769 to help restore the family home that was destroyed over the years.  You can read the story on the GoFundMe Page.