1St Sgt Wayne Ball

1St Sgt. Wayne Ball, age 69 died Sunday at 5 Rivers Hospital in Pocahontas. Wayne lived in Jonesboro since 2006 coming from Missouri. Wayne served 21 years in the U.S. Army; serving 2 tours in Vietnam. During his career he was stationed in Germany. Wayne also retired from Missouri Department of Corrections. He liked fishing and boating; loved his horses and gave horse and wagon rides to down syndrome children; and those in orphanages. He took trail rides with his grandsons. Wayne was a Baptist.

Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Rethel Painter Ball; 4 brothers, Jim Flowers, J.D. Flowers, Johnny Mac Ball,and John Larry Ball, 1 sister, Loudean Patterson. Survivors include 1 daughter, Michelle Perusse (Kolby) of Cabot, 1 brother, Dennis Ball of Lake City, 2 sisters, Ruth Morris of Walnut Ridge, Paulette Wessell of Jonesboro and special friend, JoJo Cook. Also surviving are 4 grandchildren, Austin, Kevin, Brandon Daugherty and Haley Perusse and 3 great grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held Thursday, July 18, 2013 at 10:00 AM at Birdeye Veteran Cemetery with an Army Chaplin Mark Golaway officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday, July 17, 2013 from 5-7 PM at Emerson Funeral Home.