Willamae Ball, 86, of Dallas, Texas, passed away Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011. She was born Oct. 23, 1924, the daughter of Dr. F.E. (Eddie) and Mayme (Wilson) Burdett of the Cross Roads community, four miles west of Ava, Mo.
After graduating from Ava High School she worked several years for White River Valley Electric in Branson. She married W.G. (Bill) Ball in 1949 and moved to St. Louis, Mo. She worked for Airtherm Manufacturing for 10 years before moving to Dallas where she and Bill opened their own business. After retiring in 1985, they enjoyed traveling, flying their airplane throughout the U.S. and Bahamas, as well as boating on the Lake of the Ozarks. They rarely traveled anywhere without their beloved poodle, Dart.
Willamae lived her personal and professional life according to her deeply held Christian values and faith.
She is survived by one of her five sisters, Gwendolyn Harley; a niece, Sally Tope; three nephews, Larry Harley, Ed Hesterlee, and Jim Williams; as well as many great nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held at 12 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 12, in Ava City Cemetery with Rev. Marty Blakey, pastor of the Ava United Methodist Church, officiating under the care and direction of Barnes Family Funeral Home, Ozark. Online condolences may be shared at www.barnes familyfunerals.com.
