Mary Brown Ballard

Mary Fran Ballard passed away peacefully on April 19, 2022, in Austin, Texas. Mary Frances Brown was born November 5, 1927, in Highland Park, Michigan, to Lawrence E. Brown Sr. and Marie Brede Brown. Mary Fran grew up in Detroit and graduated from Redford High School. In 1949, she graduated from Sweet Briar College and she remained a loyal alumna for the rest of her life.

Mary Fran married Donnell A. Ballard on August 31, 1950, in Detroit, Michigan. The couple lived in Ypsilanti and Dearborn, Michigan before moving to Texas. In 1952 Don went to work at the Dow Chemical Company facility in Freeport, Texas and they lived in the nearby town of Lake Jackson for the next sixteen years. Mary Fran gave birth to Anne Edmonds Ballard in 1953, and to Charles Lincoln Ballard in 1954.

In 1968, Don took a position with Arco Chemical, and the family moved to Nassau Bay, Texas, and then to Princeton, New Jersey in 1970, back to Houston in 1976 and then to Wayne, Pennsylvania in 1981. In the late 1970's, Mary Fran studied for her law degree at the South Texas College of Law. She was admitted to the bar in both Texas and Pennsylvania and practiced law for many years in Philadelphia.

Mary Fran was deeply involved with The League of Women Voters for many years, serving on the State Board of Directors of the LWV in both Texas and New Jersey. She was also very active with the Democratic Party of Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

In recent years, Mary Fran and Don lived in the Legacy Oaks Assisted Living Facility of Austin, Texas.

Mary Fran is survived by her husband of 71 years, Don Ballard, her children, Anne Ballard Spacht (Mark Spacht) of Austin, Texas and Charley Ballard (June Youatt) of East Lansing, Michigan. Grandchildren Scott Woodard and Andrew Ballard, Sister-in-law Diane Drake Brown, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mary's memory may be made to Sweet Briar College, sbc.edu/give.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenforestoaks.com for the Ballard family.