THOMAS EDWARD BALL

JASPER- A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, at Waters Cemetery for Thomas Edward Ball, 84, Jasper, who died Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Cox Barton County Hospital in Lamar.

Arrangements are under the direction of Daniel Funeral Home, Lamar.

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. this evening (Wednesday), Sept. 11, at the funeral home.

Contributions are suggested and made payable to Waters Cemetery or St. Jude Children's Hospital, in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com.

Survivors include his wife, Jacqueline "Jacque" Ball, Jasper; two sons, Thomas "Tommy" Ball and wife Jenny, Jasper and Derik Ball, Jasper; two grandchildren, Carly Ball, Park City, Utah and Katie Ball, Jasper; four sisters, Sylvia "Susie" Norwood and husband Wilfred "Buddy", Carthage, Janice Clements and husband Lyle "Bud", Jasper, Lois Jean "Jeannie" Crocker, Carthage and Cathy Long, Nevada, Mo., along with many nieces, nephews and great nieces and great nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Jim Crocker.

Mr. Ball was born July 31, 1940, in Carthage, to Thomas F. Ball and Muriel (Farmer) Ball. He attended the rural Blue School right across the road from his childhood home and later graduated from Jasper High School in 1958. He married the love of his life, Jacque McDonald, on November 19, 1960 and they were approaching their 64th wedding anniversary at the time of his death.

He did farm work early in his life, progressing on to heavy equipment work, this started with working with his uncle, Walter Ball, before beginning working for Jack McDonald Construction in 1959 in Golden City and then owned by his future father-in-law. He participated in local custom work for local farmers, along with some state and federal highway work. He later bought the business and started his earthwork company in 1990. Through his career he left his lasting mark upon God's earth by constructing many soil conservation projects such as waterways, terraces, ponds, along with other projects such as clearing brush, constructing building pads and excavating basements. During varying portions of this time he was joined by both of his sons working for the business. He had also served as president of Jasper Little League Baseball and served on the Jasper School Board and had also hosted a country radio show in the mid - late 1970's on WMBH in Joplin. 

Mr. Ball always valued each customer he had, as was evident by the repeated work for clients over decades of time. Many days he came home covered in dust, fingernails encrusted with dirt and grease and smelled of diesel exhaust from the bulldozers and other equipment he operated. But upon returning home, that's where his true priority and love of his life really shined; enjoying time with his family. He so loved being with them and telling the stories of his life, which were all accompanied by the infectious laugh that he had, a laugh that was so unique that anyone who knew him could recognize it from a mile away. He retired in 2013 and spent even more time focusing on his family and especially being with his wife, who had also retired. He was always so proud of his sons and loved doting on (and spoiling) his granddaughters. He will be dearly missed by his family, friends and loved ones who knew him, but will be welcomed home in Heaven by all those who have gone before him.