Mary Frances Carter Ballew

October 23, 2008 11:59 pm

Park Hill, OK - Mary Frances Carter Ballew left this earth October 22, 2008 to fulfill her invitation to come and sing for her master to honor him with the gift that he gave her that so many loved to hear. Her privilege now is to sing forever in his heavenly group.

She was born in Park Hill, Oklahoma on December 4, 1927 to Jim and Maude (Hayes) Carter. Her siblings are Hattie and James Westfall of Pryor, Henry and Nannie Carter of Park Hill both deceased, Donald and Juanita Carter of Woodland, CA., Dorothy Gross of Inola, and Teresa and Robert Chatfield of Ada.

She was married to Jerry (Gerald) Ballew of Cookson, Oklahoma. After Jerry's military obligation they traveled with his employment and eventually settled in Tulsa for several years. Along the way they found the time to have five children: Donna and Billy Garvin of Broken Arrow, Gary Ballew of Oklahoma City, Cathy and Russ Knowles of Fort Gibson, Jamie Ballew and Dawn of Keys and David Ballew and Kim of Broken Arrow.

While in Tulsa she became a charter member of Sheridan Road Baptist Church where she made many lifelong friends that she continued to keep even after her move back to the Cookson and Keys area.

She later became an active real estate agent in Cherokee County and also was a tour guide for the Murrell Home in Park Hill.

She leaves behind her grandchildren: Christin, Jeard, Dallas, Chad, Jake, Cassie, Savana, Lindsea, Drake, Whitney, Matthew and Madison, three great grandchildren Blayne, Peyton (Bubba), Kiara and a host of nieces and nephews.

One of her legacies will always be, as one of her children stated, "She prayed us all back to Jesus." She leaves five Christian children behind because of the example of her life.

She was a member of the Park Hill Baptist Church.

Arrangements are being handled by Hart Funeral home in Tahlequah and services will be at the Park Hill Baptist Church at 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 25, 2008. Interment will be at the Cookson Proctor Cemetery and a reception immediately following at the T.A.C.O building in Cookson. The family would like to give a special thanks to the staff at the Tahlequah hospital and Dr. Stanley Handshy for their wonderful care and help in making this transition as easy as possible.