Peggy Ann Ballard

Peggy Ann Ballard passed away peacefully on March 16th, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. in Rowlett, Texas. Graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 20, at Pearl Cemetery. The family will receive visitors at Scott’s Funeral Home in Gatesville from 1:00 to 2:30 prior to the service.

Peggy was born on February 26th, 1939, in her grandparents’ house that sat above Cowhouse Creek in Coryell County, the same creek in which she was baptized in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in 1951. She was lovingly raised on the other side of that same creek by her parents Robert Clive Kelly and Johnnie Mae Kelly, both of whom preceded her in death in 1985 and 2004 respectively.

In 1944 a little boy named Ronald James Ballard gave her a big blue marble in kindergarten and stole her heart, and they married 14 years later. Through sickness and health, good times and bad, their love persevered until Ronald’s death in 1997. Peggy Ann passed with the big blue marble still framed and in the bedside table next to her.

Peggy and Ronald had one son, Ronald (Ronny) James Ballard II of Garland, Texas, who they raised in Round Rock, Texas where Peggy called home for 50 years. Ronny survives her, along with her daughter-in-law Laura Jean Ballard and her grandchildren Benjamin Thomas and Catherine Mae and Catherine’s fiancé Coltin Rowbotham. Her love and pride for her family was one of her biggest sources of joy.

Peggy was fortunate to find many loving friends in her retirement years at Westside Church of Christ in Round Rock, and Georgetown Church of Christ. They provided love, friendship, family, and memories that lasted her until the very end. She achieved her dream to travel the world with many of them. She was afforded the opportunity to provide fellowship and service to others during this active time in her life of faith.

Peggy graduated as Valedictorian of Evant High School in 1957 after attending Pearl High School through 1956, the year Pearl school shuttered its doors. Peggy had both a strong work ethic and sharp mind that served her, and the attorneys for whom she worked, well as a para legal. Through her exceptional work in the 1970’s, she developed relationships at the Texas Attorney General’s Office which yielded a long career at Thompson and Knight Law Firm in Austin from which she retired in 1999. Her first five years of retirement were some of her happiest, as she lived with and spent many days quilting, sewing, gardening, and holding craft sales with her devoted mother Johnnie Mae.

As we gather to celebrate the life of Peggy Ann Ballard, we will remember her sense of humor, her love of nature, her creativity, and the love she brought into the lives of those who knew her. Peggy's journey was marked by her faith, her dedication to her family, and her enduring friendships. May she rest in peace knowing she was a deeply loved mother, grandmother and friend and will be forever missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Pearl Church of Christ, 6790 FM-183 E Gatesville, Texas, 76528.