Loretta Grace Ball

Graveside services for Loretta Grace Hopkins Ball, 96, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, October 3, 2021 at New Liberty Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  

Mrs. Ball passed away at 5:40 p.m., Tuesday, September 28, 2021, at her home, with her loving family around her.  

She was born November 25, 1924 at Arondale, Oklahoma, to Thomas Alfred Hopkins and Artie Mariah Tilson Hopkins.  She graduated from West Plains High School with the Class of 1943 and was always proud to be a Zizzer.  On November 21, 1987 she was married to Oral (Zeke) Ball, who preceded her in death July 17, 2006.  He was the love of her life, her soul-mate.  Mrs. Ball was a mother and homemaker most of her life.  She loved her children and multiple generations of grandchildren.  They were her world, and she was actively involved in anything they did.  She also loved her St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs.  Mrs. Ball was a Christian and attended Central Church of Christ until her health prevented her from going.

She is survived by three children, Thomas Harris and wife, Erma, Michael Harris and wife, Doris, and Wendy Harris Dunkin and Heath; one daughter-in-law, Joyce Piper; four step-children and their families, Barbara Robinson and husband, Scott, Kenneth Ball and wife, Antelia, Judy Beckett, and Linda Boji; fourteen grandchildren, Bryan Harris and wife, Ginger, Ted Harris and wife, Kristina, Joel Harris and wife, Leslie, Misty McCrackin and husband, James, Dusty Simmons and husband, Jim, Michael Dunkin, Chris Piper and wife, Sheri, Tina Piper, Joshua Harris and Amber, Joseph Harris and Amanda, Rhonda Crowell and husband, Gordon, Lisa Walker, Kevin Reece and wife, Elizabeth, and Jackie Elliott and Zyvonne: thirty-six great-grandchildren; fifty-eight great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Ruth Bennett (who was an angel on earth that helped care for her); one sister-in-law, Mary Hopkins; and several nieces and nephews. 

Her parents, step-father, Ira Briscoe, husband, fathers of her children, Clarence Piper and Winifred Harris, one son, Larry Piper, one great-granddaughter, Alissa Piper, one great-great-granddaughter, Camber Piper, two brothers, Warren Hopkins and Jerry Briscoe, and two sisters, Juanita Mahan and Rae Rhyne preceded her in death.  

Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Gideon Bible Society, V.F.W. Women’s Auxiliary, or the West Plains Senior Center and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO  65775.