My Sweet Grandma

On May 4, 2010 my sweet Grandma left this earth to go HOME. She has been suffering the last little while and I am happy she is now in a much better place. I am going to miss her so much, but I am thankful that I have so many memories of her. She was the most loving person you could ever meet. She genuinely loved everyone around her, especially her family. She would quite often call me just to say hi and to tell me that she loved me. I will never forget those phone calls. Just a couple of months ago she sent Makenna a card in the mail. All it said was "Grandma Ballard loves you." I could tell she struggled to write it, but it just shows how much she loves her family. I love you Grandma, you will be greatly missed!

This is a picture of my Grandma with some of her Great-grandkids. She loves them so much!

Some of the great-grandkids at the funeral.

Here is her obituary from the paper:

Violet Vivian Hicks Ballard 12/20/1921~05/04/2010

Violet Vivian Hicks, our wonderful wife, mother, grandma and great-grandma, went home to our Heavenly Father May 4, 2010.She was born December 20, 1921 in Rural Retreat, VA. Married Merlin W. Ballard on December 17, 1945 in Wythville, VA where he was discharged from the Navy and then brought her to Salt Lake City, Utah where he was from. She was a convert and devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church and her family were her life. She was all about loving, serving and doing for others. Always there for everyone! Therefore much loved by all. She served in every capacity in the Church from Relief Society Pres, Service Missionary, serving a mission in Australia with her husband, to teaching primary at age 80 and those children loved her so. Genealogy was her hobby, being a convert to the Church it was so important to her. She is survived by her husband Merlin W. Ballard, children Chery Pannier (Scott), son Scott (Nancy) and Barby Valentine (Kelly), 12 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at the Hillcrest 5th Ward, 915 East 9045 South on Sat., May 8th at 12:00 p.m. Viewing will be held the morning of the service from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at the church. Interment Elysian Burial Gardens.

This is the program from the funeral: