John Christopher Ballard

John Christopher Ballard, 34, formerly of Jonesboro, Arkansas, passed away on Friday, October 6, 2023, at his current residence in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was born on December 20, 1988, to Stan and Beth Ballard at St Bernards in Jonesboro. John was engaged to his loving fiancé, Taryn Childress. Taryn lives in Little Rock, Arkansas, where they first met. They were to be married on February 17, 2024, in Park City, Utah, an ideal location for the two, as they loved traveling and skiing together.

John was saved and baptized at the age of six. He was a member of Nettleton Baptist Church and served on multiple overseas mission trips, including Haiti and Kenya. John graduated from Nettleton High School, Arkansas State University, and Black River Technical College. He worked as a respiratory therapist at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock for several years before moving to Salt Lake City, Utah, as a traveling respiratory therapist for Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital.

John was a wonderful son, brother, uncle, and friend. He enjoyed keeping up with sports, especially Arkansas State University and Mississippi State Football. He was very health-conscious and could cook delicious meals. John also loved hanging out with his friends, spending time with his dog, Czar, and going on new adventures with Taryn.

Left to cherish his memory are his parents, Stan and Beth Ballard; his fiancé, Taryn Childress; brothers, Howard (Kristi) Ballard and Andy (Mary) Ballard; Nephews, Tyler (Rachel) Ballard and Landon Ballard; Nieces, Leah Ballard and Alyssa Ballard; and a host of other family and friends.

Funeral services will be 2:00 Thursday, October 12, 2023 at Emerson Memorial Chapel with Brother Ron Langston and Dr. Glen Putman officiating and Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.  Burial will follow at Macedonia Cemetery with James Bickham, Hunter Phillips, Tyler Ballard, Landon Ballard, Matt Mouzy, Todd Fahlberg, Russell Threet and Joe Deeter serving as pallbearers.  Visitation will be from 12:30 until service time.

For lasting memorials, please consider, Nettleton Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 2415, Jonesboro, Arkansas, 72402. To sign an online guestbook, go to emersonfuneralhome.com.