Ruby M Ballard
(June 08, 1922 – July 17, 2017)
Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home with Rev. Kevin Ray officiating. Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Saturday in the funeral home. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville, IL. Memorials may be given to the First Christian Church in Shelbyville, IL or the Shelbyville Manor Activity Fund.
Ruby was born on June 8, 1922 in Dugout near Middlesworth in Shelby County, Illinois, the daughter of Emmanuel Francis and Emma Elizabeth (Ditzler) Clay. Ruby attended Shelbyville High School. She worked at Sta-Rite Ginnie Lou, Kay Drive-In, and the Garment Factory all in Shelbyville, IL and the Garment Factory in Mattoon, IL until she retired in 1984. Ruby loved traveling, camping, sewing and cooking. She also enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and her neighbor kids. Ruby was a member of the First Christian Church of Shelbyville, IL, United Garment Workers of America and a former member of Ladies of the Moose #1325 of Shelbyville, IL. Ruby married Charles E. Ballard on August 16, 1941, in St. Charles, MO. He died on December 4, 1983.
She is survived by her daughters Carol Zinter (Tom) of Tucson, AZ, Patricia “Tece” Finney (Jerome) of Windsor, IL and Beverly Wilson (Jim) of Shelbyville, IL; sister, Nadine McCabe of Marion, IL; sister-in-law, Eva Roberts of Shelbyville, IL; 8 grandchildren, Brenda Hamilton (Johnny), Jerri Yager (Al), Teri Mayfield (Alan), Debbie Pluckett (Vaughn), Andy Wilson (Shelly), Travis Zinter, Steve Finney (Jessie), and Adam Wilson (Lore); 20 great grandchildren; 5 great great grandchildren and one more in August; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles “Charlie”; brother, Gale Clay; two grandchildren, Kelly Robillard and James Troy Wilson; brother-in-law, Elmer McCabe; and sister-in-law, Mary Thompson (Burl).
Special thanks to the CNAs, nurses and all the staff at Shelbyville Manor for all the love and care they gave to our mother.
Send condolences at www.howeandyockey.com