Nancy Ellen Ballou

Nancy Ellen Ballou, age 91, of Knoxville, Tennessee passed away on Thursday, October 24, 2024. She was born April 12, 1933. Nancy was a graduate of Central High School where she was accorded many honors. She attended Wesleyan Conservatory in Macon, Georgia, majoring in Voice. She transferred to UT, Knoxville where she received her BA. She performed in Hansel and Gretel and Carmen. As a member of Delta Delta Delta she sang and danced as Cleopatra in Carnicus. She was an Air Force ROTC sponsor and Engineering College Queen of Spades. Nancy was invited into Soma Sala Women's Club in Morristown, then an officer in Tri Delta Alumni group in Pensacola while continuing her vocal soloing.

Back in Knoxville, Nancy served on the board of Knox Area Mental Health Association, was a volunteer at Ft. Sanders Hospital, substitute teacher, while engaging in the activities of her four children and still singing. She belonged to the Women's Guild of the National Symphony and the Republican Women's Club in Washington, D.C., and she was an associate of the Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna, Virgina. She served on the President's Commission for the Employment of the Handicapped under Presidents Carter and Ford. The focus was for wheelchair accessible public buildings, now a reality.

While in Washington, she hosted a coffee at the First Baptist Church of Washington, D.C., which was attended by Shirley Temple Black. She attended a dinner party at the Liberian Embassy, courtesy of the Liberian Ambassador and his wife. Their daughters were later guests of Nancy's daughters for a picnic dinner at Wolf Trap for a performance of Hansel and Gretel. The ambassador's family was later slaughtered in Liberia. Interesting people met a Liberian functions were Lorne Greene, William Canton, the French Ambassador, Gerald Ford, Liza Minnelli, Sammy Davis, Jr. (both performing) Elizabeth Taylor's son (a dinner-mate), John Warner and Elizabeth Taylor, our overall chairwoman for the al fresco dinner with designs by Halston. Ms. Taylor had been met previously at a dinner party at the Republican Club, where on a different occasion, Johnny Cash and June Carter were the centers of attention.

Nancy and her late brother, Dr. Gordon Ballou, entertained a huge gathering at the Shoreham on a friday night and on sunday evening. She entertained the U.S. President, Jimmy Carter and his wife, at a dinner party in her home with members of her dinner club (everyone brought a dish) plus secret service, white house physician, presidential military aide and official white house photographer. The invitation originated while as his and Rosalynn's guests at a production of Madame Butterfly at the Kennedy Center. The conversation turned to the President's desire to get to know people in less formal situations. The dinner group was mentioned, very favorable acknowledged and when Dr. Ballou came to Washington to sing with Nancy at a huge party a the Shoreham the plans were consummated.

After leaving Washington and many extraordinary and lovely people, she lived for 2 years in her beloved Smoky Mountains, doing visitor surveys, which led to her being the chairman for and organizing events for the National Arthritis Foundation Convention. At the same time she had her own Gatlinburg Wedding Service catering to people out of state. Wedding sites and catered receptions were arranged as well as the ministers and musicians. Nancy organized the Prime Time Chapter of the International Red Hat Society, with outstanding and deeply genuine ladies.

Her greatest loves were her children, grandchildren, music, mountains, golf and horses. Nancy is preceded by her father and mother, Dr. and Mrs. O. E. Ballou and brother, Dr. Gordon Ballou. She is survived by sons, Stephen Ballou Smart and Robert Murray Smart; daughters, Suzanne Smart Brown and Melissa Ellen Dunbar; seven grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren; sister, Shirley Ballou Voyles and husband Larry.