Herman E. Ball

Herman Edward Ball passed away Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at his home in Lafayette, CO. He is survived by Debbie Ball, his loving wife of 57 years and two daughters, Cyndi and husband Rich Hause of Littleton and daughter Tricia Morgan of Bangkok, Thailand. He is also the very proud ˜Papa' of six grandchildren, Alexandra, Garrett, Rhian, Evan, Bailey and Hannah. He was born September 12, 1927 in Robertsdale, Alabama to William and Bertha Ball. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Bill and two sisters, Dolores and Betty. Herm graduated from Robertsdale High School and then joined the Merchant Marines for two years. After several mercenary trips across the ocean, he attended Auburn University where he studied Forestry and worked summers as a smoke jumper in Missoula, Montana. He worked for the CIA out of college and met his wife, Debbie Leonard, of Longmont, while both were working in Washington, DC. They married in June 1956 and started their married life in Florida but later moved to Bailey, Colorado where Herm began his career with the US Forest Service, a job which would later take him to Colorado Springs; Sundance, Wyoming; Custer, South Dakota; Laurel, Maryland; and back to Durango and Lakewood in Colorado. They had five children; two young daughters, Cathy and Nancy, died from Muscular Dystrophy complications and a son, Billy, who died in 1984 from a carbon monoxide poisoning.After retirement Herm and Debbie continued with their love for travel and visited their daughter, Tricia, in Jerusalem, Africa, Philippines, England and Thailand. Herm donated countless hours working at the St. Francis Center in Denver, Habitat for Humanity, Senior Services, and RSVP in Boulder. He also started a business putting together forestry management plans for landowners, including Rich and Cyndi's mountain property where he spent most of his spare time hiking the hills and thinning the forest. He loved spending weekends with his family in the mountains.Herm and Debbie raised their family in the Episcopal Church and attend St. Stephens in Longmont. A memorial service will be held:Monday, April 21, 2014 at 2pmSt. Stephens Episcopal Church1303 South Bross LaneLongmont, CO 80501In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Herman Ball to either:1. The National Forest FoundationBuilding 27 Suite 3 Fort Missoula Rd Missoula, MT 59804 Web: http://www.nationalforests.org/ http://www.nationalforests.org/2. Tru Care of Boulder (Hospice)2594 Trailridge Drive East Lafayette, CO 80026Web: http://www.trucare.org/giving-back/donate-now