Willie J. Ball was born in Neosho, Missouri on June 26, 1896. He moved to Sherman, Texas when he was three, with his parents and five other children.Ollie Shearer Ball was born in Grayson County on December 8, 1902. She was one of seven children.
I met and later married Ollie in Sherman on March 26, 1920. We farmed near Whiteboro, and while living there, Marie and Lester were born. In 1923 we moved to Hagerman to continue farming. During this time, Wilburn and Roy Lee were born.
We moved on to big farming opportunities in West Texas in March of 1928. Our furniture, farming equipment, and live stock were moved by train; our family moved in our Model T, spending two days and night (sleeping by the side of the road), on the way to Spur.
Our first home in Dickens County was in the Dry Lake Community (Farrell farm) near Spur, where we lived for the next six years. It was here in 1928 that Aline was born.
Moves were made to Espuela, then to the Elliott farm where Donald Ray was born in 1939, then east of Spur to the Ramsey farm where we lived for eighteen years.
Finally, we purchased eighty acres of land north of Spur, and reside there at the present time. I retired from farming in 1972, but we still have a garden and some chickens.
Our six children have given us thirteen grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren. Marie married Walter Messer (Killed in WWII) they had two children, she lives in Redlands, California. Lester married Frances Gibson, they have two children, live in Spur. Wilburn married Ila Ruth Draper, they have two sons, they live in Spur. Roy Lee married Shirley Rohrbach, they have four girls, live in California, Missouri. Aline married Jim Neal, they have three children, live in Waldron Arkansas. Donnie Ray lives at home.
In March of 1985 we celebrated our 64th Wedding Anniversary and all of our children were present.
Source: Dickens County History...its Land and People © Dickens Historical Commission; Printer: Craftsman Inc. Lubbock, Texas 1986
Funeral services for Willie Jennings Ball, 89, were held Tuesday at 11 a.m. in the First Baptist Church, Spur, with Rev. Norris Taylor, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Stinnett, officiating.Mr. Ball died at his home May 17, 1986 about 11:59 p.m. following a lengthy illness.
Born June 26, 1896 in Neosho, MO, he married the former Ollie Shearer in Whitesboro on March 26, 1920. A farmer, he had resided in Dickens County most of his life. He was a member of the Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Ollie Ball, Spur; four sons, Lester, Donnie and Wilburn Ball, all of Spur; Roy Lee Ball, California, MO; two daughters, Marie Messer, Redlands, CA and Aline Neal, Walden, AR; two brothers, Roy Ball, Colorado Springs, CO and Emmett Ball, Sherman; one sister, Clara Jacobs, Pottsboro; 13 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.
Burial was in Spur Memorial Cemetery with Campbell Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
©The Texas Spur, May 1986
Services for Ollie Mae Ball, 88, Spur, were at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 25, 191, in the First Baptist church with Rev. Norris Taylor, Idalou, formerly of Spur, officiating. He was assisted by Dr. Genoa Goad, church pastor.Mrs. Ball died March 23, 191 in the Crosbyton Clinic Hospital following a lengthy illness. She was born in Black Fork, AR on December 8, 1902. A homemaker, she had resided in Dickens County since 1927.
She married Willie Jennings Ball on March 26, 1920 in Whitesboro. He died in 1985. she was a member of the Baptist Church.
Survivors include four sons, Lester, Wilburn and Donald Ray Ball, all of Spur; Roy Lee Ball, California, MO; two daughters, Marie Messer, Redlands, CA. and Aline Neal, Spur; one brother, Herbert Shearer, Denison and 13 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Pallbearers included Dennis Ball, Benny Ball, Tommy Tucek, John Clay, Fred Neaves and Lloyd Hindman.
Burial was in Spur Memorial Cemetery with Campbell Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
©The Texas Spur, March 28, 1991
Transcribed by Linda Hughes from the records of Lillian Grace Nay
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