Shari was born Sheryl Ogrieda Ball on October 15, 1945 in Springfield, Missouri to Herschel C Ball and Mary Opal Hall Ball.
She is survived by her sister, Maria Hill & husband Gary Lee, niece Charmaine Hill Poteet and husband Bill, nephew Gary Edward Hill and wife Evan, and great nephew Wilson and great nieces Scarlett and Sloane.
Shari attended Springfield schools until her family moved back to Dallas in 1960 and she graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1963.
As a child Shari loved her pets - especially her 2 ponies Beauty and Roxie. She began showing the pony Attraction when she was 9 and then sold the ponies so she could buy her 3 gaited show horses. She became an accomplished competitor until she moved to Dallas.
After high school she became a flight attendant with Ozark Airlines. She then went on to become the first flight attendant for Atlantic Richfield Oil Company. While with Atlantic Richfield - she flew around the world several times meeting leaders of various countries including Aristotle Onassis Junior and was at a dinner with the Shah of Iran. One special highlight was meeting the President of Notre Dame - who gave her tickets to the Cotton Bowl football game.
In the mid 1970’s - Shari went to work for Koslow Furs. Koslow sent her to Italy to learn how to judge fur animal pelts. During this time she continued to travel back and forth to Europe.
The late 1980’s brought some health changes and a severe fall which resulted in many operations. Shari had always felt a calling to serve and help others and she felt led to became a massage therapist. She had a very successful business for 15 years before becoming disabled due to the extensive strain that being a masseuse put on her body.
Shari was devoted to her mother, with whom she lived for 20 years. She loved her family - her sister Maria and her niece Charmaine and nephew Gary Edward, whom she called her “bambinos.” Shari loved and doted on her great nephew and great nieces and was a fun and loving to playmate to them - they were also her “bambinos.”
Her sister has been Shari’s caregiver for the past 13 years and is grateful that Shari has been able to live at Evergreen Senior Living with wonderful and loving caregivers for the past 5 years. She experienced a heat stroke in July and was resuscitated when she was taken to Medical City Las Colinas where she received great care. After she was revived and able to - they asked her to do a health segment on NBC News about the dangers of being in the sun for senior citizens. Shari gave a great testimony about what she had been through and her recovery. She looked beautiful for the taping and did not look as if she had ever been through this type of trauma.
Since that time she has not been in good heath - having fallen many times and suffering from many health issues. The one constant in Shari’s life has been her love for Christ. She was faithful with her tithes and missions to TBN, as it became her church. She was a prayer warrior for many and had a designated prayer room in her apartment where she spent much time calling out to Abba Father.
Shari always said “God bless you and angels around you” whenever she said goodbye to someone. That will be one of the last things we remember about her - her signature sign off. Shari always wore her favorite colors - lavender and purple. She always made sure her hair was perfect, as well as her makeup and nails. Her sister always said, “Shari could be as sick as a dog, but she was going to make sure she always looked her best.” And she did. Many people thought she resembled Elizabeth Taylor. Shari touched many people in her life - especially with her prayers and concerns for them and for various ministries. She was not afraid to share her testimony and give out Bibles when she could. Today she is rejoicing in Heaven with the Lord and with the angels all around her. As she would say to each of us today, “God bless you and angels around you!”
She is preceded in death by her parents Herschel C Ball, Mary Opal Ball Shanbaum, brother Herschel C Ball, Jr., maternal grandparents Edward and Ogrieda Hall, paternal grandparents Reverends HC and Sunshine Ball.
Following the service there will be a reception in the funeral home. Please join the family for light refreshments
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