Rotha Ball

Rotha Corrinn Ball was born July 24, 1928 in Beedeville, Arkansas and passed on to her heavenly home August 6, 2022. She was the eighth of nine children of Sanford Marshall and Della Magdalene Breckenridge, nee Taylor. She was raised in the Hickory Ridge, Arkansas area where her father sold Watkins products and owned and operated the general store, Breckenridge Grocery. In 1945 she married Sherman Willard "Bill" Ball, son of Robert Franklin and Mary Leona Ball, nee Wisemore. While Rotha and Bill were still living in Arkansas, daughters Rita Ann, Elaine, Nancy, and Sherry were born. In 1954 the family moved to Koontz Lake, Indiana, where their daughter Mary was born in 1957. In 1961 the family moved to Illinois, where they remained until 1988. Daughters lived in Illinois, Texas, California, Arizona, Tennessee, and New York. In the early 1980s, Rotha and Bill retired and started relocating back to Arkansas settling in Sharp County. Bill passed away in 1993 after battling cancer. In 1996 Rotha remarried for a brief time and "adopted" a stepson, Michael Mattison. They cared for each other for over twenty years. When Rotha's older mobile home needed to be replaced, Mike built a sturdy home that was safe from the tornadoes the area saw frequently. Rotha and Bill had 63 descendants, (including twin great-great-granddaughters born on Mother's Day 2021), 5 daughters, 12 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 24 great-great-grandchildren. Rotha was predeceased by daughters, Sherry (2001), Rita Ann (2019), and a grandson, Darrell Webb (2007), son of Nancy. A lifelong member of the church of Christ, Rotha enjoyed volunteering at the Ash Flat Senior Life Center until she was no longer able to drive. She was proud to write the newsletter, play games, and lead exercises and singing for quite some time there. While in Illinois she worked for DeKalb County Nursing Home and retired from Eaton Corporation. Rotha loved family and travel. Since their daughters lived in so many states, she and Bill drove motorcycles across country to visit and sight see in the early '70s. She especially enjoyed sewing and crocheting and other arts and crafts with family and friends. Rotha and her family are so grateful for the wonderful care she received from Dr. George Jackson, Legacy Hospice, and the amazing nurses and caregivers at EagleCrest Nursing and Rehab in Ash Flat. Contributions in Rotha's memory may be made to Ash Flat Senior Life Center, Legacy Hospice, or to the charity of choice. Services will be Friday, August 12 in the chapel of Tri-County Funeral Home with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. and funeral at 11; Ron Helm will officiate. Graveside service and burial will be at 3 p.m. in Lewis Cemetery, 2989 State Hwy 259, Hickory Ridge, AR with Jody McFadden officiating.