Alice Baer Ballard, My Lovely Grandmother

My Grandma passed away just over a week ago. I spent a lot of time with her growing up. She shared so much with me. We traveled to Germany and the Caribbean, the Tetons, and even the local canyons where she would sit and paint while I played. I loved sleep-overs where we'd play in the yard and I would watch her do her daily chores, then we'd sit down for dinner in front of the evening news while waiting for Grandpa to come home. He'd often treat us to ice cream and then I'd crawl into bed with a new book Grandma had found. She read me many books and we shared many favorites. I always thought she was such a Lady. She had a special appreciation for things handmade, as she was an artist herself.

Alice Baer Ballard 1922 ~ 2010 Alice Irene Baer Ballard, born April 11. 1922 in Deerfield, Michigan to Walter Baer and Alice Fletcher Wyman, passed away Sept., 9, 2010 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She met and married Dale H. Ballard during World War II while serving in the Women's Army Corp. After the war ended, she and Dale moved to Draper, Utah, where Dale originated. Alice was a beautiful woman with many talents. She had a very difficult childhood, being orphaned at the age of ten. At the age of 16 she attended the Twin City Beauty College. A locally well-known artist, she loved blending travel and painting which took her many wonderful places around the world, Bali, Egypt, and rafting the Colorado River being her favorites. She was an excellent seamstress and culinary artist, cooking everything from tofu to enviable chocolates, and delighting her family with memorable birthday cakes. She served many callings for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and supported her sons on their missions. Alice enjoyed the beauty of nature and was simple and unpretentious. Her flowers were an inspiration and she and her grandchildren loved picking food in her garden. She loved the many family gatherings and holidays we shared, especially the delightful Easter egg hunts. She loved to learn, devouring hundred of books in many subjects, taking art classes and a variety of seminars throughout her life. Alice is survived by her children, Dale Ballard Jr., Frank Ballard and Pamela Ballard, fourteen grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Dale H. Ballard.