Merritt E Ball

Merritt E. Ball, age 86, of Ottawa, passed away, Monday, July 3, 2023, at Midland Care, Topeka, Kansas.

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at Ruhamah Cemetery, Rantoul, Kansas.

Merritt was born April 29, 1937, in Ottawa, Kansas, the son of Gerald Elmo and Elenor Louise (Blackstone) Ball.

He lived the last 10 years and most of his life in Ottawa. He also lived in Springfield and Warsaw in Missouri, Louisburg and Wellsville in Kansas.

Merritt graduated from Wellsville High School with the class of 1956.

He was united in marriage to Sonja Putney April 29, 1958, in Ottawa, Kansas. She survives of the home.

Merritt was a residential carpenter for much of his life, retiring in 2003.

Merritt was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Carolyn R. Bates, brother, Roger Ball and grandchildren, Kevin Hehner and Angela Hehner.

Survivors include his wife, Sonja; children, Michael W. Ball (Nancy) Nevada, Missouri, Beverly E. Muder (Matt), Kansas City, Kansas, Rodney L. Ball (Jennifer), Rantoul, Kansas, Brenda K. Hill (Johnnie), Paola, Kansas; sisters, Shirley Arnold (Jim) of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Patty Landess (Richard) of Osawatomie, Kansas and Peg Johnson of Rantoul, Kansas; twenty grandchildren, twenty-four great-grandchildren and one great great-grandchild.

Merritt enjoyed being outdoors fishing and hunting. He also enjoyed watching Kansas City Royals baseball and playing cribbage with his dad.

He will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.