Margaret “Marnie” Curtis Stifler Ball, 87, passed away Dec. 29, 2019, in St. George, Utah. She was born in Baltimore, Md., April 29, 1932. She grew up in Huntington Beach, Calif., and later moved to Arizona with her family. She met Frank D. “Bim” Ball in Phoenix, Ariz. They were married Oct. 10, 1957, and they took up residence in Big Piney. Marnie was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Much of her life centered around caring for her children and other people. She was intelligent and talented in many ways and freely shared her love and knowledge. Marnie lived honorably, cared about everyone and had deep respect for all people. She was always easy to talk to and had a great sense of humor. Marnie touched many lives with her generous kindness and encouragement. She taught art, swimming and lifesaving to many people and also served several times as a 4-H leader. Marnie was a devoted Christian and served others for many years through work for the Congregational and Episcopal churches. Marnie had a great fondness for the desert and for artifacts and rocks. Even when she could no longer get out, she was always interested in what we encountered in the “red hills.” Her father’s job as the archaeologist for the Arizona Highway Department gave her a great respect and admiration of Native American art and culture. She loved to read and was very knowledgeable about local history. She was fiercely proud of her 63-year residence of Big Piney, the Ball family heritage in the Green River Valley back to the 1880s and that both families have pre-Revolutionary War United States ancestors. Marnie is survived by her daughter, Marque A. Ball; sons, John R. Ball (Becky Backs) and Roger A. Ball (Rebecca Bradley); daughter-in-law, Heather Ball Marback; seven grandchildren, Hunter Ball (Katie Yliniemi), Lexie Ball, Liza Ball, Daniel Ball, Maddie Ball, Kaitlyn Ball (Darryl Jenkins), and Nicholas Ball (Kelsie Millett); and six great-grandchildren, Jordan Ball, Gavin Ball, Aubrey Ball, Sophia Jenkins, Calvin Ball and Amelia Ball. She is preceded in death by her daughter, Margaret Christine Ball (Chris); her son, Jerald D. Ball; and her husband, Frank D. “Bim” Ball III. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, Jan. 18, at 1 p.m. at the Southwest Sublette Pioneers Senior Center, 111 Rakestraw Ave., Marbleton. Interment will follow at Plainview Cemetery, Big Piney. A family dinner will follow interment also at the senior center. Marnie was a strong proponent of supporting charities, so in lieu of flowers, give to the charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary of St. George, Utah, and Covill Funeral Home of Pinedale.
