Mrs. Jean Ball

Mrs. Florence Imogene Farris Ball, affectionately known to her friends as "Jean," went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, peacefully in her own home in De Queen, Arkansas. God blessed Jean with a fruitful life of ninety-eight years, six months, and four days, leaving a godly heritage before calling her to a long-awaited heavenly home.

Jean was born the youngest child of Eugene Lee and Delia Clifton Farris on February 20, 1924, in Van Buren, Arkansas. She was a 1942 graduate of the Willow, Oklahoma high school, and later went on to attend nursing school. She married the love of her life, Oscar Murry Ball, on August 31, 1946, at the 40th Street Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and to this blessed union a daughter and three sons were born. Jean spent her life as a Pastor's wife, ministering and sharing her love for Christ, raising her family, and keeping her home.

In 1954, six years after giving their lives to Jesus and growing strong in the faith, Jean and Oscar were led to leave family and friends to serve God at the Piney Grove Bible Camp in De Queen, taking on the role of caretakers and providers for the many children who attended the camp each year. Soon afterward, Oscar started receiving invitations to hold services at many surrounding small community churches, having to meet Sunday mornings, afternoons, and evenings, with Jean praying and supporting. In addition, Sunday afternoons were sometimes spent ministering at the nursing home. To provide for his family, Oscar built houses until the late 1970's when he started growing chickens for Pilgrim's Pride.

For many years, Jean led women's Bible lessons and prayer meetings, and taught children Bible truths in the Sunday School. She helped Oscar prepare for teaching the Bible in the public schools where he gave eager students the opportunity to read God's Word in order to receive their own Bible. Summers were spent working together to provide as many as five evening Vacation Bible Schools, plus weeks of camp. Jean and Oscar hosted numerous missionaries, meeting their needs with meals and a place to sleep. In her later years, Jean was a faithful worker and member of the Union Community Church where Oscar had last been the pastor.

Preceding Jean in death were her loving parents; her devoted husband of more than sixty-five years, Oscar Ball; two brothers, Harry Farris and Noble Farris; two sisters, Ida Mae Tedford and Lola Lockett; and a beloved great-granddaughter Valena Renee Stake.

Those for whom she tenderly prayed and are left to cherish her legacy of love and memories include: three sons and daughters-in-law, Philip and Susan Ball of Texarkana, Texas, Paul and Laura Ball of Hope, Arkansas, and Tim and Tamika Ball of Cave Springs, Arkansas; one daughter and son-in-law, Vickie and Rev. Brent Stake of Jacksonville, Florida; thirteen grandchildren, Rev. Scott Stake, Dr. Stephen Stake, Dr. Josh Stake, Mike Pizzalato, Brittany Ball, Seth Ball, Zac Ball, Jake Ball, Alison McQuain, Teya Lester, Nyah Lester, Alizeneh Lester, and Alayna Walker; as well as a number of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and a host of friends.

A Celebration of Life for Mrs. Jean Ball will be held in the Chandler Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, September 8 at 2:00 PM with Dr. Stephen Stake, officiant. Visitation with the family will precede the service at 1:00 PM. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Chandler Funeral Home of De Queen. Friends may leave condolences online at www.chandlerfuneral.com.

If you desire to honor Jean's life with a memorial gift, her grandson, Dr. Josh Stake, is a physician working in the Middle East at a hospital that cares for patients from over 80 countries. Checks sent in honor of Mrs. Jean Ball may be made payable to Vickie Stake, 10737 Golden Spike Ln., Jacksonville, FL 32257. The money will be forwarded to Dr. Josh and Kristen Stake. For acknowledgement, please include an e-mail address.