Joyce Bohannan Ballew

Joyce (Bohannan) Ballew, age 73, of Gholson, passed away Tuesday, January 25, 2005 at her residence. Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church of Gholson,with the Rev. Brad Moore officiating. Burial will follow at Gholson Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 Wednesday at the funeral home. Joyce was born May 18, 1931 in West, the daughter of William and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bohannan. She attended schools in West and graduated from West High School. On January 3, 1950, she married Darrell Ballew in West and he preceded her in death on November 18, 1993. She worked as a bookkeeper for Whitney Peanut Company and for Gholson Water Supply for several years until her retirement in 2004. Along with working beside her husband farming for many years she was a homemaker and raised seven children. She loved reading, raising birds, gardening and was well known for raising and growing orchids. She was a former member of the Centex Orchid Society. Survivors include five sons, Darrell E. Ballew Jr. and wife Brenda of Bosqueville, Bob Ballew and wife Debbie of Waco, Bruce Ballew of Pembroke Pines, FL, Brian Ballew and wife Kathy of Aquilla, and Greg Ballew of Gholson; two daughters, Carla Cargill and husband Randy and Janet Thrower and husband Kenneth all of Gholson; two brothers, William Ross "Bo" Bohannan Jr. and wife Sybil and James Bohannan and wife Lillian all of West; one sister, Doris Jean Slay and husband John of West; twelve grandchildren; three great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Active pallbearers will be Jimmy Gifford, Danny Goates, Riley Goates, Jr. Wiley, David Ballew, Randall Ballew Jr., Darron Bohannan and Dennis Bohannan. Memorials may be made to the Meals on Wheels program.