Mareese Ballard Smith, 85, Placentia, Calif.
Mareese Ballard Smith, 85, of Placentia, Calif., formerly of Bardstown, died Friday, Nov. 25, 2011, at Bradford Square Village in Placentia, Calif.
She was born in Bardstown on March 22, 1926, to Otho and Pearl Ballard. She and her late husband, Albert Smith, lived in Springfield for about 10 years in the early days of their marriage. They moved to Paris, Ky., and opened Dollar Stores in several towns. About 25 years ago, Mareese and Albert moved to a home on Boston Road while owning and running their Smith Insulation business. They attended St. Joseph Catholic Church.
She attended a one-room elementary school named Highview in rural Nelson County, Fredericktown High School and St. Catharine College. She worked in the family dollar stores, and as a hostess at the Talbott Tavern. She had a special interest in the culinary arts and collected more than 2,000 cookbooks. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and was a member of the Nelson County Homemakers for more than 20 years. She and her husband belonged to three antique car clubs and spent a lot of their time enjoying the sport of showing and traveling in the antique cars. She valued her family and friends. Her faith in God and helping those around her was paramount in her life.
Survivors include three sons, Ronald Smith and Craig Smith, both of Orange, Calif., and Leland Smith of Yorba Linda, Calif; one daughter, LaMonda Smith Simmons, of Anaheim, Calif; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Out of 11 children in the Ballard family, four siblings survive: Theodore Ballard of Yorba Linda, Calif., Sr. Mary Otho Ballard OP of St. Catharine Motherhouse, St. Catharine, Ruth Ballard Schroth of Buena Park, Calif., and Reuben Ballard of Silver Spring, Md.
Funeral services will be held in California and in Kentucky. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011, at the Basilica of St. Joseph Catholic Church with burial in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011, at Mann and Greenwell Funeral Home with a prayer service at 7 p.m.
Mann and Greenwell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. For more information, please visit http://www.mannandgreenwell.com/.
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