Gerald Houston 'Jess' Ballard

Gerald Houston "Jess" Ballard, 90 years, long time resident of Hominy, Oklahoma, passed away on Monday, July 31, 2017 at Cleveland Area Hospital in Cleveland, Oklahoma.

Jess was born in Ruby, Oklahoma on April 01, 1927 to Jack and Delva (McMains) Ballard. He attended Nowata High School and entered the United States Army Air Corps in 1945. He served in 247th AAF Base Unit, Squad A during WWII, and was in the Pacific Theater of Operations as well as state side. He received the WWII Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal. On May 5, 1945, he married Betty Louise Bitters. They moved to Hominy in 1956.

Jess owned and operated Ballard Bulldozer Service and was an Osage County Commissioner for twelve years He professed and ministered Jesus Christ and was a member of Antioch Christian Fellowship in Wynona, Oklahoma. Jess was an avid hunter and fisherman and taught three generations of Ballards how to hunt and fish. He loved to garden, was a proud supporter of the Hominy Bucks and in earlier years, really enjoyed reading military history. Jess was a member of Blackwell-Frazier American Legion Post #142 in Hominy and was a loving PaPaw to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jess is survived by: 4 children: Lora Dobbins of Hominy, OK, Jerry Ballard of Hominy, OK, Jane Gover, of Houston, TX and Lila Hamilton and her husband, Wally of Houston, TX; 8 grandchildren: Lora Beth Malloy of Killarney, Ireland, Amy Louise Dobbins and her companion, Jon Graham, of Hominy, OK, Jennifer Gover of San Antonio, TX, Jerry Don Ballard and his wife, Courtney of Pryor, OK, Janna Gover of Houston, TX, Jessica Stamp and her husband, Trevor of Houston, TX, Jerad Ballard and his wife, Kimanda of Skiatook, OK, and Dr. Jonathan Ballard of Hominy, OK; 8 great-grandchildren: Blake Bohner and his wife, Shelby, Xavier Perdue, Zander Perdue, Landon Cole, Caleb Stamp, Leighton Ballard, Tommy Stamp, and Matilyn Ballard; 2 sisters: Billie June Stookey of Bartlesville, OK, Lynn McKeown of Utah; his brother: Lyle Ballard and his wife, Joan, of Hominy, OK; his sister-in-law, Mary Ballard of Vinita, OK and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Jess is preceded in death by: his parents, his loving wife, Betty; his son-in-law, Curtis Dobbins; and 3 brothers: Benny, Tommy Jack and DeWitt Ballard.

The funeral service was at 10:00 AM, Friday, August 4, 2017, at the First Assembly of God Church in Hominy, Oklahoma with Pastor Wally Hamilton officiating. Jerry Ballard and Jerry Don Ballard were speakers. Pallbearers were: Jerry Don Ballard, Jerad Ballard, Dr. Jonathan Ballard, Blake Bohner, Jon Graham and Brad Ballard. The pianist was Carol Taylor. Graveside services followed at 2:00 PM at the McMains' Cemetery in Nowata, Oklahoma with Military Honors performed by the American Legion Honor Guard Memorial Team of Bartlesville, Oklahoma.