Ballard, Floyd Burdette “Bert” - 1894-1967

BALLARD, BRINKMAN, CRAFT, ELLIOTT, KETRON, WADDLE, WEBB

Posted By: Donna Sloan Rempp (email)
Date: 3/3/2016 at 20:27:04

Life Story Of Floyd (Bert) Ballard
Floyd Burdette Ballard, son of Ira and Minnie Rae Ballard and commonly known as Bert was born in Haviland, Kans. On April 1, 1894 and passed away at his home in Prairie City from a heart attack on March 7, 1967 at the age of 72 years, 11 months, and 7 days. He worked all day on March 6th and on that evening he attended a board meeting at the Pleasant Hill Church where decision was made regarding a memorial he had given the church in honor of his wife, Rae, who preceded him in death on September 24, 1966.
Bert spent his boyhood and early years in Kansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico before coming to Iowa prior to World War I in which he served from Oklahoma. After the War he returned to Iowa where he worked on farms in the Monroe neighborhood and later farmed for himself.
On February 16, 1921 he married Rae Waddle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Webb. This marriage of more than 45 years ended with the death of Rae last September as noted above. During this nearly half century they lived in various places including Des Moines. In 1949 they sold their farm and moved to Prairie City. Surviving are four sisters and two brothers (one brother, Brooks, deceased) as follows: Mrs. Berda Craft, Wichita, Kans.; Mrs. Bernice Brinkman, Key West, Fla.; Mrs. Bessie Ketron, Spokane, Wash.; Mrs. Beulah Elliott, Fairfax, Okla.; Berline, Monroe; and Bethel, Lansing, Mich.
Including the 16 children of his sisters and brothers with those in Rae’s family, he is survived by 45 nieces and nephews. These were always welcome at “Uncle Bert’s and Aunt Rae’s.” In addition he leaves a host of other relatives and friends in the communities where they have lived.
Prior to his marriage he became a member of the Brethren Church. Shortly thereafter, he transferred to the Pleasant Hill Methodist Church where he was active in its program for more than 40 years. During that time he served both as a member and Chairman of the Official Board and on various other committees. Also he was Chairman of the Building Committee when an addition was made to the church a few years ago. For the past 10 years he served as usher, a responsibility which he discharged with courtesy and dependability.
The prayer which follows has been taken from a book of poems composed by Bert’s mother, Minnie Rae Ballard, and entitled “Glimpses Between the Shadows and Sheen.”
A Prayer
Give me the power Thy will to do to get the blessed Master’s view;
Lead my footsteps day by day although rugged be the way.
Oh, ‘twill be an upward climb and reveal new heights sublime,
Glimpses of the Promised Land where all life is good and grand.
Where the thought of death or sin shall in no wise enter in;
Where all unclean doubt and fear by Love’s light shall disappear.
Where the Lamb, who once was slain, heals all sin, heartaches and pain.
Father, give me power to climb to those heights of joy sublime.
Source: Monroe Mirror; Thursday, 16 March 1967 (Monroe Silent City Cemetery, Block 15, row 2)