John Robert Ballard ”1955 - 2024”

John Robert Ballard

When Tomorrow Starts Without Me When tomorrow starts without me And I’m not here to see If the sun should rise and find your eyes All filled with tears for me I wish you wouldn’t cry The way you did today While thinking of the many things We did not get to say I know how much you love me As much as I love you Each time that you think of me I know you will miss me too David Romano

John Robert Ballard of Miami, OK passed from this life Friday, December 27, 2024 at Global Higher Call Nursing Home in Quapaw, OK. He was 69. John was born August 12, 1955 in Baxter Springs, KS to William "Bill" and Oleta (Dawes) Ballard. He graduated from Seneca High School Class of 1974 in Seneca, MO. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Oklahoma State University where he was also on the wrestling team. He served in the United States Marine Corps. John was a member and Chief of the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma. He had worked for Santa Fe Railroad, owned and operated Ballard Sand and Gravel, worked for the Seneca Tribe Indian Child Welfare and was a grant writer and worked for the Modoc Tribe. He was a member of the Native American Church. He was preceded in death by his parents and 1 brother, Randolph Ballard. John is survived 2 sons, John David Ballard of Okmulgee, OK, and Geoff Tyner and his wife Nakoda of Bartlesville, OK, by Joyce Blalock of Wyandotte, OK, a cousin he considered his sister, Rae Ann Plemmons and her husband Richard of Quapaw, OK and 5 grandchildren, Cynthis Dawn Tyner, Tuibitsi Bighorse, Kayce Tyner, Penelope Tyner and Geoff Tyner, Jr. Funeral services will be Thursday, January 2, 2025 at the Ottawa Tribal Building, southeast of Miami, OK with Rev. Geoff Buffalo officiating. Native American rites will be conducted by J.C. Dawes. Interment will be in Ottawa Indian Cemetery, southeast of Miami, OK with Michael Tyner, Marcus Tyner, Jeremy Gibson, Skip Blalock, David Frye and Les Lambeth serving as pallbearers. John will lie in state at the Ottawa Tribal Building beginning at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Services have been placed in the care of Paul Thomas Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Miami, OK. Online condolences may be made at www.paulthomasfuneralhomes.com. Resource: www.paulthomasfuneralhomes.com

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