Ruth E. Ball Boyd

Ruth E. Ball Boyd, of Springdale, Ark., departed this life on Wednesday, January 10, 2018, surrounded in love by family and caring medical staff. Ruth was an amazing person, a remarkable lady, loving mother, and grandmother. She was gentle in spirit; loved life, family and friends. She was one of the strongest women ever known who cared deeply for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her siblings. She always had a welcoming smile when people entered her life, home, or surroundings. She loved her church family, both Church of Christ and Baptist. Ruth was born November 12, 1924, in George, Arkansas, the fourth of 13 children of Ray and Ova May Newberry Smith. Ruth was preceded in death by the love of her life, the father of her children, Nolan Ball; her son Waymon M. Ball in 1966; Jack Boyd, whom she married on May 13, 1989; and daughter-in-law, Louise Ball. She is survived by her children, George A. Ball of Lowell; June B. Ball and Bob Scott of Rogers; Phyllis and Ron Sisk of Huntsville; Steve Ball and his significant other, Lana, of Springale; and adopted daughter, Alberta Homola-Shepard of Huntsville. Three brothers, Art and Dixie Smith of Springdale; E. Joe Smith of Jenks, Okla.; and Cecil L. Smith of Benton, Ill.; two sisters, Mary Lois Cobb of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Cormal and Roger McMahan of Alpena; and three sisters-in-law, Rose Hallstone of Brentwood, Calif.; Lee King of Concord, Calif.; and Rose Smith of Green Forest, Ark.; grandchildren, Jeff and Kelly Ball of Lowell; Sheila Norris of Springdale; and Bob's children, Beverly, Debbie, Sheryl, Phyllis' children, Matthew Coger, Mark and Diana Turner, Amanda and Tim Epling, Lovie and John Epling of Huntsville, and Steve's daughter, Stephanie and Dusty Maupin of Hindsville. She had many great and great-great-grandchildren. Mother loved going to the Senior Center, playing bingo, having lunch with the Red Hatters, sewing, quilting, crocheting, and bowling for some 25 plus years. She loved genealogy, and had the memory of an elephant of which everyone was amazed. She was an active Republican throughout her life. Visitation will be from noon to 2:00 PM followed by the Memorial Service at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 13, 2018; at Brashears Funeral Home in Huntsville, Ark. and burial will follow at Ledbetter Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Kidney Foundation in honor of Nolan Ball.