Marilyn Kay Ballard

Marilyn Kay Ballard was born on March 11th, 1946 in Tahlequah, OK the daughter of Herbert Homer and Mary Ann (Hendricks) Hendricks. She grew up with three brothers and five sisters, Sue, Shirley, Betty, Margie,Becky, Rufus, Gunter, and Terry. Marilyn attended school graduating from Tahlequah High School in 1963. She met and married George Ballard and together they started a family. She was the very proud mother of three children, Sandra, Sheila and Joe. She went to college and graduated with her degree, spending the next 40 years working for the Cherokee Nation as an Early Childhood Development Trainer. She worked to improve cognitive, fine motor, and social skills. She worked tirelessly to help families work for the child’s needs, abilities. And understand the development level of each child. She loved working with the children, they made her smile and she in turn, devoted her career to making them the best they could be. Marilyn was awarded Employee of The Year for Cherokee Nation on September 30th, 1999, a honor she held in her heart. She loved her co-workers, they were a tight knit group that liked doing lunches together and going out from time to time. There was a passion for garage sales, and shopping, and having her hair and nails done. She had her canine companion Priscilla tagging along with her wherever she went. She was masterful in the kitchen made the most delightful coconut cream pie! The grandchildren made her smile and there wasn’t nothing she wouldn’t do for them. She was so proud of all their accomplishments. A Christian by faith, she read her Bible daily and attended the Keys Church of God. The Lord called this good and faithful servant home from her many labors on February 4th, 2022 at Muskogee, OK. She was 75 years old and will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents and her mother and father, her beloved daughter, Sheila Renee Ballard, brother Gunter Hendricks and sister Becky Potts.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Sandra Paulsen of Tahlequah, OK, and son Joe Ballard also of Tahlequah, OK. She leaves her brothers and sisters, Sue Ritchie of Tahlequah, Shirley McClure and husband Donnie of Tahlequah, Betty Stubbs of Muskogee, Rufus Hendricks and wife Anita of Tahlequah, Margie Stinnett and husband Jay of Hulbert, OK and Terry Hendricks of Tahlequah. She lives on in her grandchildren, Nathan Paulsen and wife Katie of Tahlequah and Natalie Coones and husband Josh of Locust Grove. There is also a very special great grandchild, Kase Coones of Locust Grove, as well as a many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones and students whose lives were made richer just by knowing Miss Marilyn.

Funeral services for Marilyn Kay (Hendricks) Ballard will be held on Friday, February 11th, 2022, at 2:00 PM at Reed-Culver Chapel with Pastor Shawn Petree officiating. Her family will receive visitors on Thursday, February 10th, 2022 beginning at 1:00 PM Until 7:00 PM at Reed-Culver Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest at Hendricks Cemetery with her family. Pallbearers for Marilyn include the following, Steve Ritchie, Dewain Hendricks, Michael Bunch, Michael Hendricks, Donnie McClure and Josh Coones. Online condolences may be left at www.reedculver.com.