I'm going to miss hearing "hiii olliieeeee!!!!!"😭😭😭😭😭 This man right here I've seen what he has done with his accomplishments but did not truly know what this man did to accomplish what he did......wish I would've spoken to him more 😒😒😒😒life is too short
..I've had a lot of death around lately and we should all take the time to truly tell the ones you love what they actually mean to you 😔 ultimately he created a HUGE family with Nannie Hudson Ballard and i couldn't be more proud of what they accomplished as husband and wife 🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲....TIME is something else........

I too have a fond fishing memory with Ray. He used to make a fishing trip every year to pay the church’s insurance premium. He paid his crew and the rest went to the church. We talked about how if I went and helped, that would be one less crew member to pay. I wasn’t a real Sailor yet and not used to the seas. He tried to get me to take Dramamine but I wanted to be tough. By the time I realized I would be seasick, it was too late. I hung in there for a few hours, but alas, Ray told me he couldn’t sell the fish if I kept throwing up on them. He told me to go below and lay down. I stayed below for the rest of the trip (3 days?) and I think I was ready to kiss the ground when we got back. He never gave me a hard time about my lack of productivity.

I always enjoyed talking with Ray, sharing stories, and occasionally working with him on projects. No one would doubt the love he had for his children and grandchildren. He was always willing to do for them. I met him in church and always knew he loved the Lord. I will miss Ray and I know he leaves a void that cannot be filled. 


My Papaw really was the greatest of all time to me. I was so blessed to know him for my 28 years and to be within a few miles of him most of my life; we had so many memories together and I hope I always make him proud. There were a few things we had in common that we both enjoyed.. I will always hold those close to my heart to remember him by. He had expectations that we go to church, respect our Granny, do well in school and at work, and that we cleared our plates at supper (which wasn’t hard to do because he could have had a successful restaurant if he wanted to with his famous hush puppies, fried and blackened fish, and Granny’s coleslaw). He had expectations in us kids because he wanted us to be on the right path as we grew up and he always believed in us.. even if we made poor choices his door was always open to his grandkids. He always kept the pool clean for us, and when most of us grew up it took him several years to fill it in even tough it was a pain to keep up with and not being used much, I think he kept it because he wanted our family to be able to come visit and swim and he would always cook for us. One of his favorite things was having family together, watching us all fix a plate and enjoy our meal (with a delighted look on his face) before getting his own. Generous, unconditionally loving, and reliably supportive, and hard working all describe my papaw. He was a serious man, but he was also silly and warm and his fiery spirit lives on in so many of us. I will miss him so much. I love you Sunshine, I promise we will take care of Granny and Teddy. Love, your Pookins

I remember me Stephen and the girls went to visit him granny was on a trip.we had dinner with him and he made cookies for the girls.he would always tell Stephen you got a goodwoman 

Ray started out as my father-in-law and later became my best friend. We would work together. We would sit and talk for hours about anything and everything. We had a lot of good laughs. One good memory I have is that I went to pick him up one day and, as he got into the truck, he started telling me a story and could barely talk because he was laughing so hard. It seems a cat had got into his enclosed screen porch as he was sitting out there earlier that morning. The cat couldn't figure out how to get back out and panicked. Fur and claws flying it climbed all the screens until it tore a hole in the screen and escaped. He said it never came back. We used to go down to the fish house and talk to his longtime buddies, 
Allen Williams and Scotty. I'll miss you, Ray, and all our times together.

My pa-paw was the best I could ask for. Not only was he the best cook ever, but he was someone I looked up to. I always enjoyed hearing his stories from when he was in the Navy. I love him and will miss him.

I am so thankful to have had him as my dad. He worked hard all his life to provide for his family.  There was nothing my daddy couldn't fix; from cars, boats, a/c's, making and installing his own cabinets and so much more to trying to teach me to ride a bike as a child. That was one thing he didn't succeed at until I decided I couldn't let my younger sisters show me up and hopped on and did it. My dad was a strong man. He was such a wise man. He was my hero. I will miss him so much.

Mr. Ballard took me fishing many many years ago (maybe 2001 - 2002).  It was my first time salt water fishing.  I bought me a shiny new rod and reel - practiced and practiced my fishing knots. We decided to fish off the dock at the fish house under the Theo Baars Bridge.  Mr. Ballard kept his boat there for a time.  The current was very strong so we were using 3 or 4 oz pyramid weights (pretty heavy for my light action rod).  My first cast, I sling my rod around (forgetting to release the bail) and it goes flying out of my hand and straight out into the water - sinking into the darkness. Mr. Ballard just stared at me in amazement - he must have thought I was utterly useless at that point.  Funny part of the story, about an hour later - thinking I had caught a rather large fish, I accidentally hooked my lost rod through one of its eyes and was able to reel it in. It was pretty amazing seeing the shape of my rod and reel as it made its way up through the dark water.  Needless to say, neither of us could be believe my dumb luck.  And, yes, I did actually end up catching a fish that day - a black drum.  Not sure if that was redemption in Mr. Ballard's eyes for my casting incident or not.  But, needless to say, we had a good laugh for a good while at my expense... :).

We have so many funny memories of Ray and dad fishing. They always had  good times and fellowship when they went and would come home no matter how late at times and have mom and Mae cook hush puppies while he fried fish. He was faithful and he did a lot of maintenance at the church for many years. I cannot imagine what him and dad are doing in heaven but I know they are no longer in pain or suffering in the presence of God. May God comfort your hearts and give you strength during this time. He will live in your hearts until you are together again.
Love,
Steve and Shawn 

Pappypaw meeting Button (Blakely Claire) for the first time on Christmas Day 2022.

This photo has been included in her baby book because I know she'll love this photo... and love that she had the chance to meet you.

We love you old man...

OBITUARY

Raymond B. Ballard

January 25, 1939 – July 25, 2022

Oak Lawn Funeral Home

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