MERRITT BALLEW was a wonderful man, doting
father and grandfather, loving husband, and
an all-around gentle soul. He loved to travel,
was a hard worker, and loved to putter around
in his various workshops, travel trailers, and
yard. He was always raking leaves, cleaning
the pool, working on the cars, or performing
tasks for his family, and rarely sat still.
He passed away on Feb. 22, 2015 at the age of
94. Burial was at Restland Memorial Park in
Dallas, TX.
Merritt Ballew was born on Dec, 13, 1920 in
Ranger, TX to Virgil Edward Ballew and Ollie
Lindsey Ballew. He attended Ranger High School
in the Class of 1938. He served in the U.S.
Marine Corps in WWII, earned a rank of Sergeant,
served on Iwo Jima and Bougainville as well as
other places, and is a Purple Heart recipient.
He was honorably discharged in 1945. Following
that, he married Jacquelyn Louise Toland, and
they were married their entire lives. They
adopted a daughter, Joli Ballew in 1964. He
carried the mail for the US Postal Service
and enjoyed walking his route daily. He was
a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and
great-grandfather. He was a very special man
and was loved by all.
At the time of his death, he was survived by
his daughter Joli Ballew and her partner Mary
Anne Cosmo, granddaughter Jennifer Johnson
Vorster and husband Andrew Vorster and their
two daughters, Allison and Leah.
He is preceded in death by his wife Jacquelyn
& his brother Morris, with whom he has already
reunited with in the next world.