Marie Ballard, 88, of Shawnee, KS passed away on Sun., Nov. 12, 2017 at Shawnee Gardens Nursing Home. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 am, and the Funeral will be at 11 am, both on Fri., Nov. 17, at the Alden-Harrington Funeral Home in Bonner Springs, KS with burial to follow in the Bonner Springs Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Alzheimer's Association in care of the funeral home. Marie was born Sept. 8, 1929 in Kansas City, KS and was a longtime area resident. She graduated from Washington High School in 1947 and then moved with her family to the St. Peterburg, FL area in the early 1970's eventually moving back to the Kansas City area, where she went to work for Sprint as an Administrative Assistant until she retired in the 1990's. She loved to travel the world and really enjoyed going to the beach and watching the dolphins. Marie is survived by her three children Gary Ballard of Grandview, MO; Marcia Smith of Tonganoxie, KS and Glen Ballard of Atchison, KS. One brother Jim Fisher of Kansas City, KS. Two sisters Evelyn Truax of Shawnee, KS and Roberta Ray of Sunrise Beach, MO. Five grandchildren and many great grandchildren who will all miss her greatly.