Maurine Ballard, 94, Duke, passed away Monday, March 6, 2017 in Hollis. Funeral services have been scheduled for10:00 AM, Friday, March 10, 2017 at the Duke Church of Christ with Eddie Beard and Lainial Gilbert officiating. Burial will follow in the Prairie Hill Cemetery under the direction of Kincannon Funeral Home and Cremation Service.
Annie Maurine Brock was born the youngest child, October 30, 1922, to Ulysses G. and Emma (King) Brock in Harmon County, Oklahoma. She graduated with the class of 1939 from Hollis High School. Maurine caught the eye of JD Ballard at a skating party in the summer of 1940 and they were united in marriage on March 22, 1941 in Hollis, Oklahoma, where they made their home. Soon after WWII and JD's service in the Navy, they moved to Duke where they lived for the next seventy two years. JD passed away in 2010, four months before their 70th anniversary. She was a homemaker and a 4-H Leader; worked as a Teacher's Aide in the Duke Schools and was the Assistant Post Master at the Duke Post Office for a number of years, retiring from that position at eighty two years of age. Maurine was a past member on the Extension Homemakers as well a member of the Duke Church of Christ. She was well-known for needlework of all kinds and was especially honored to create hand -made beaded wedding dresses for many brides. She never went to a wedding without a sewing kit with thread to match the wedding attire, so, if needed, she could help with last minute fittings or repairs.
Maurine is preceded in death by her parents; husband, JD; two siblings, Hiram Brock and Doris Trammell and a niece Mickey Caswell; as well as many brothers-in-law; sisters - in -law; nieces, nephews and long-time friends.
She is survived by her son, Joel Ballard of New York City; a niece, Patsy Clement of Hollis, OK; sister-in-law Mary Emma Meadville of Duke; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made in Maurine's name to the Duke Church of Christ Building Fund or the Duke School Foundation.
Online tributes may be made at kincannonfuneralhome.com