Melissa Renee (Ward) Garza

Submitted by Cameron1 on

Melissa Renee (Ward) Garza, 37, of Lubbock, passed away on Nov. 4, 2018, after a three-year battle with cervical cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Nov. 10 at First Baptist Church in Cameron. Michael Dennis of North Village Church will officiate. Burial will follow the funeral at Oak Hill Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home.

Melissa was born in Temple on Jan. 6, 1981. She graduated from C.H. Yoe High School and continued on to receive a Cosmetology License from the Paul Mitchell School.

Melissa was married to Nicolas Edward Garza on April 16, 2011. They were married seven years.

Melissa worked as a hair stylist for Regis Salon for seven years and then worked independently at the Grapevine Salon for two years. She enjoyed the fellowship of church, spending time with family, playing games, traveling, watching live music, writing and being creative.  She was also actively involved in sharing her knowledge with and supporting other cervical cancer patients.

Melissa is survived by her husband, Nicolas Garza; daughters, Jacey Simank and Katelyn Garza; father, George C. Ward; mother, Cynthia De La Rosa, brother and sister-in-law, George D. and Heather Ward; and sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth and Ryan Evans. She is also survived by Robbie Wells, Lacey Wells, Will Pyle, Sage and Lenna Evans, Liam Garza, Robin and Rudy Garza, Gabriel and Waleska Garza, Chris De La Rosa, Paula Wells, and other family and friends.

Melissa was preceded in death by her grandparents, Winona “Sita” Provasek, George Delmer Ward, and Melvin Provasek, as well as her uncles Michael Lowery and Larry Green, her friend Connie Culpepper, and teal sisters that have lost their battle to cervical cancer.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer cash donations to go towards medical expenses for the family, support of Melissa’s children or donate to a family of your choice afflicted by cancer. The family of Melissa Renee Garza wishes to thank Interim Hospice and her nurse Leslie Arledge, the palliative care team at Covenant Hospital, Dr. Eshed and her nurses Pat and Suzie at Texas Oncology.