Joan Michelle Ball

On Sunday, December 25, 2022, Joanie Michelle Engel Ball, passed away at age sixty-five. The youngest of twelve children, Joanie excelled during her childhood in Foyil, OK. She was salutatorian of her senior class and one of the top scorers on her high school basketball team. After high school, she found her passion in acting and directing, earning her Bachelor of Art from The University of Oklahoma; from there she moved to New York, then LA to chase her dream where she starred in various productions.

After her life on stage, she moved to Santa Maria, CA and opened her own Italian restaurant, Jovanas. She owned and operated her restaurant as head chef until she met her former husband, Phil Ball, and they had their only son, Garrett. She spent the next 18 years investing every ounce of herself into being the greatest mother to Garrett that she could be.

In 2017, she moved back to Oklahoma to reconnect with her roots that still ran deep. She continued to act, direct, and teach cooking classes while enjoying life on the lake with her best friend and love, Bob Mattox. The joy that they brought each other during her time in OK was unparalleled.

Joanie was best known for her sharp humor, contagious laugh, loving nature, and kind heart. She is survived by her son, Garrett, her brothers Steve and Don Engel, and her sisters Theresa, Bernadette, and Margorie.

A memorial service for close family and friends will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023, in Oklahoma. A celebration of life will be held on June 17th, 2023, in Pismo Beach, California. In lieu of giving flowers, the family asks that those who are able instead donate to www.17strong.org.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.callahan-edfast.com for the Ball family.