Betty Jean Ballard

Betty Ballard of Chickasha, Oklahoma passed away at home on December 28, 2023 in Nichols Hills, OK. She was born on May 3, 1928 in Chickasha, OK to Jim and Myrtle Owens.

Wake service for Betty will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, January 1, 2024, in the Sevier Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral mass will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Chickasha, OK. She will be laid to rest at Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Sevier Funeral Home.

Betty lived in the Chickasha area all of her life. She was widowed in 1995 and was the mother of four children. She would always share with everyone each child's latest accomplishments, what they were doing, and how amazing they were. She was very proud of them. Betty was a life member of the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church.

Betty served many years as Grady County Clerk. Betty was appointed to this position in 1974 and only had one opponent in twenty-two years and that was during her first term for re-election.

Prior to becoming County Clerk for Grady County, she worked for six and a half years in the Treasurer's Office. She was also employed by the Oklahoma National Bank and became the first woman to become an officer of that bank. Additionally, she worked at First National Bank, J.C. Penney's, and S & H Kress.

Locally, Betty served as both a board member and ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce, Secretary to the Salvation Army Advisory Board, member of the United Way Board, President of the Grady County Mineral Owners Association; member of the American Business Women's Association and was selected Woman of the Year in 1991. Betty is also a member of the Democratic Women's Association and volunteered at Grady Memorial Hospital for many, many years and would even jokingly say she was the hospital CEO.

On the State level, Betty has served as President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer and Liaison of the County Officers and Deputies Association of Oklahoma. Betty also served as President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer for the County Clerk's Association. She has served on the Advisory Committee on Inter-governmental Relations, a member of the Commission on County Government and Personnel Education & Training, and served as Secretary to the Advisory Board of the State Health Insurance Board.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Jim and Myrtle Owens; her husband, James Paul Ballard; two sons, James L. Giddens and Justin Giddens; her brothers, James Owens and Joe Owens.

Betty is survived by her daughter, Paula Barrington of Oklahoma City, OK; her son Mark Ballard and wife Valarie of Chickasha, OK; grandchildren, Kim Reed, Claremore, OK, Kristen Giddens, Guthrie, OK, Jessica Miller, Owasso, OK, Lisa Ballard, Oklahoma City, OK, Katy Ballard, Guthrie, OK, Dillon Robbins of Las Vegas, NV, and Samuel Reed of Kansas City, KS; seven great-grandchildren; sister, Patricia Gibson of Houston, TX, and numerous nieces and nephews.  The family wants to also express their gratitude to Betty's primary caregiver, Hermelinda Mejia.  She loved and cared for Betty as if she was her own mother.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Chickasha Mobile Meals or Chickasha Nutrition Center.