Margaret D. Ballard

Margie embraced the heritage of the lovely Kentucky Bluegrass by becoming a lifelong horse lover. She was one of the original exhibitors in the Lexington Junior League Horse Show and participated into her teens. She cheered on the successful horses her father bred, trained and raced at Keenland and Churchill Downs racecourses. Margie marred Buford Dean Crowe and they had two children, Cynthia Dean and Douglas Crowe. She enjoyed working at the publishing company for the Thoroughbred Record Magazine and also spent time reconciling accounts at the Avon Military Credit Union. This was probably a poor fit since math was her weakest subject.

Margie married Robert Ballard on September 22, 1967 and formed a blended family with his daughters, Sherry Wittmus and Gina Butler. Bob had devoted his life to the military and after retiring from the Air Force, he was a civilian employee at Avon Military Base. The family made their home in Lexington until Margie and Bob were empty nesters. They then moved to Texas where Bob had spent some time while in the military and Margie's sister Virginia (Jenny) Alloway lived with her family.

Margie worked with and was a "friend of animals" her whole life. She organized the Bell County Humane Adoption Society in 1985 after serving as a member and President of Greater Temple Humane Society. Her love for animals never waned. One of her final activities was arranging to have an entire litter of stray kittens, that had spent time on her front porch this winter, spayed and neutered.

Margie had a very "green thumb" and was happiest planning, planting and spending time in her beautiful gardens.

Margie was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Ballard; son, Doug Crowe and granddaughter, Ashley Taft.

She is survived by her sister, Jenny Alloway; daughters, Cindy Taft, Sherry Wittmus and Gina Ballard; seven surviving grandchildren; Christopher Taft, Andrew Crowe, Wendy Crowe, Alex Butler, Anna Butler, Wayne Wittmus and Carl Wittmus.

A private family graveside service will be held at Moffat Cemetery.