MARY P. BALLARD

Palmer resident Mary Penelope Ballard, 79, died of lung cancer Oct. 27, 2004, at her home, with her children at her side. No public services are scheduled.

Ms. Ballard was born March 16, 1925 in Robeson County, N.C., where she graduated from high school. Shortly after high school, she attended business college in Charlotte, N.C. for two years. She first moved to Anchorage in 1955 and moved to Woody Island (off Kodiak) in 1956, where she was employed as a secretary for the Federal Aviation Administration.

Her position with the FAA moved her back to Anchorage in 1961, where she was promoted to the accounting department until her retirement in 1976. Upon retiring, she moved back to the Lower 48, but spent many summers afterward in Alaska until returning one final time to live with her daughter, Claire, in Palmer.

Her family said of her, "Mary's devotion to family and unwavering acceptance of responsibility were admired by all who knew her. She was always the solid foundation, loved and trusted by everyone.

"Her wants and needs were simple. She got great pleasure from reading, tending her roses and pampering her yellow Lab, Dottie. Her quirky sense of humor balanced her down-to-earth outlook so that she was always a pleasure to be with. We will miss her terribly and will always be grateful for her beautiful spirit and goodness."

Her husband, Donald M. Ballard; three sisters, Katherine McMillan, Olivia Boyd and Sara Johnson and a brother, Luke Harrell, preceded Mary in death.

She is survived by her children, Mary Ella Bateman of Lynchburg, Va., Claire and Guy McConnell of Palmer and Shirley and Greg Morris of Anchorage; three sisters, Janie Harrell of Charlotte, N.C., Myrtle Strain of Concord, Va. and Frances Harrell of Lynchburg, Va.; seven grandchildren, William Bateman, Barbara Clegg, Bridget Campbell, Andrew McConnell and Sean, Chip and Ricky Morris and 12 great-grandchildren, Tabitha, Alexander, Breezy and Tessa Bateman, Gabrielle, Tyler and Alysa Campbell, Gage and Dylan Clegg, Lexington Mufale and Hunter and Tayler Morris.

The family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Mat-Su, 3051 E. Palmer-Wasilla Hwy., Wasilla, AK 99654.

Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory in Wasilla.