Kern County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....(Melloway) Wheeler Ballard, Bessie Frances February 4 2005
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K T bluewolf@onemain.com February 8, 2005, 11:48 am

The Bakersfield Californian
Bessie Frances Melloway Wheeler Ballard
May 6, 1916 - February 4, 2005

A Celebration of the life of Bessie Ballard, 88, will be held today at 2:00 
p.m. in the Mish Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Perry Adkisson of the Northland 
Assembly of God Church officiating. 

Mama passed away after suffering a terrible fall in early December, breaking 
her hip. This led to another surgery and she just wasnt strong enough to 
recover from all the complications. She always said, When I get old, Im not 
gonna die, Ill just fly away. Well, Mamas got her wings now. Mamas parents, 
James S. Melloway and Pearl Woods Melloway; brothers, Elmer and Orvil and 
sister, Edna, predeceased her. Mama grew up in Clovis and Taft during the 
Depression. She had to quit school and go to work to help support her family 
after her father passed away. Times were tough for her family in those days. 
Mama and Daddy, Robert Leslie Wheeler, were married for 44 years. After Daddy 
passed away, she was introduced to James Buck Ballard. They were married for 
10 happy years, until he too passed away.

She leaves one daughter, Anita Thomas and her husband, Jimmy of Bakersfield; 
one granddaughter, Debra Butler isnt she the sweetest, prettiest thing of 
Bakersfield; one grandson, David Butler, her number one grandson of Ocala, 
Florida; two great-granddaughters, Tasha Baughman of San Andreas and Jennifer 
Baughman of Eagle River, Alaska. She loved Bucks grandsons, Steve Ballard and 
his wife, Paula of Grass Valley and Dennis of Lake Elsinore. They have been 
there for her long after Buck passed away. Mama leaves behind to mourn her 
passing Ed Coble, Jr., her adopted son; special cousin, Lloyd Woods of Clovis 
and longtime pals, Pauline Davis and Eunice Cross. Mom loved to work in her 
flower garden and loved to tell everyone that she did all of her yard work 
herself, at age 88. Her flowers were always beautiful. She loved to have her 
photo taken surrounded by her flowers. She loved her beautiful black cat, 
Maggie. She enjoyed fishing with Daddy at Klamath, CA. We have so many photos 
of her holding up her steelhead catch of the day. She was a great seamstress, 
made all of her own clothes and most of mine while I was growing up. If I saw 
a dress in a store, she would say, I can make it better and cheaper and you 
can have three for the price of one. She always came through for me. I was the 
envy of my classmates. She loved to crotchet. Everyone has a doilie story to 
tell about Mama. When I walked through the front door, she would throw one at 
me and say, Heres a new one, take it home. She was, in her words, not a fancy 
cook, always baking cookies and banana nut bread. Her fried chicken and potato 
salad were the very best! Bessie was a member of the Northland Assembly of God 
Church for many years. I think that she was the oldest lady left in the 
congregation. She loved her Sunday School class. She was also a member of 
Sunshine Church for many years.

Special thanks to our special angel, Ed Coble, for being there to find Mama 
after she fell. What would we do without you, Eddie? You have been absolutely 
wonderful through all of this. Thanks to Dr. Shoshodia, Ramona and Dawn, at 
Bakersfield Family Medical Center and the wonderful staff at Rosewood for 
helping us through these difficult times. Thanks ladies, for all your kindness.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Hoffmann Hospice, the 
Humane Society or a charity of your choice. 


Additional Comments:
Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased.

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