Howard Ballard

Tahlequah Daily Press Tahlequah, OK December 22, 2010

Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

TAHLEQUAH — Funeral services for Howard Ballard will be held on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010 at 1 p.m. at the Reed-Culver Funeral Chapel with Rev. Billy Dallis officiating. Interment will follow at Greenleaf Cemetery. Services have been entrusted to Reed-Culver Funeral Home of Tahlequah.

Pallbearers for Howard include James Neugin, Julian Franklin, A.C. Fields, Rodney Ballard, James Ballard, and Robin Ballard. His honorary pallbearers include Gary Ballard, Alan Murphy, Joshua Johnson, and Alex McDonald.

Howard Ballard was born on Nov. 14, 1932, in Braggs, the son of John J. and Bertha (Langston) Ballard. He attended the Manard School. On Sept. 5, 1961, he married his sweetheart, Rosie Edwards. This union was blessed with three children, one son and two daughters.

For 54 years, Howard worked as a nursery worker at Ozark Nursery, which later became Park Hill Nursery. He loved his job and his many friends he made there over the years.

When he wasn't working, Howard loved the great outdoors. He enjoyed camping, fishing, picnics and family reunions. There was nothing more enjoyable than a day spent in town, just visiting with old friends and making new ones. He was a quiet man with a subtle sense of humor.

He worked hard his entire life and had only retired one month before his passing. He was happy just to be with his family sharing a laugh or listening to good country music. Howard was a Christian by faith and was called home to his Lord and Savior on Dec. 18, 2010, at his home on Stick Ross Mountain with his family at his side. He was 78 years old.

Howard is preceded in death by his parents; his wife Rosie on Oct. 13, 2008; three sisters, Margie Oung, Imogene Sparks, and his baby sister Maydell; as well as one brother, Jim Ballard.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving children, Gary Ballard and wife Clara of Okmulgee, Tina Murphy and husband Leo of Tahlequah, and Rhonda Bluebird and husband Anthony of Florida. He leaves one brother and two sisters, Hubert Ballard, Carol Jones, and Sallie Hendricks all of Tahlequah. Howard's legacy lives on in his five grandchildren, Alan Murphy and wife Lucy, Kristy Murphy and husband Julian, Melanie Franklin and husband Alex, Josh Johnson and Matthew Bluebird. He also leaves three great-grandchildren, Dylan Murphy, Kasiah Murphy, and Kylee Murphy as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones.

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