Phyllis Elaine Ballew

Baldwin City — A service of remembrance for Phyllis Elaine Ballew, 79, Baldwin City, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in Baldwin City. Inurnment will be at a later date at the Oakwood Cemetery in Baldwin City.Mrs. Ballew died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008, at a Baldwin care facility.She was born Aug. 19, 1929, in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of James Anaultus and Olive May Winship Bruun. She graduated from Paseo High School in 1946. She attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City.In Kansas City, she was a billing clerk for Lowe & Campbell Athletic Goods and a statistical typist for Helzberg’s Jewelers while attending classes at the Kansas City Art Institute. She joined Nu Phi Mu Business Sorority and Order of Eastern Star.She moved to Fayette, Mo., where she attended Central Methodist College.Mrs. Ballew moved to Baldwin City in 1951. While in Baldwin City, she worked for Meyers Dairy in Lawrence. She also worked at Baker University as a cook and later in the office of endowment. she served seven years as assistant and acting Baldwin City Clerk. Mrs. Ballew also worked at J.C. Penney in Lawrence and Ballews’ Service and Grocery, which she and her husband owned and operated from 1965 to 1979. She was employed with the Baldwin City school district for more than 20 years and helped organize the new school library in 1971. After retirement, she spent many hours volunteering.Mrs. Ballew was a member of the First United Methodist Church, American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 228, Past Presidents Parley, 8/40 Salon No. 512, Lawrence Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and a longtime member of Baldwin Retirement Apartment Complex, or BRAC. She also belonged to the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix (WCSC), Eastern Star, Mothers Club and several genealogical groups including Daughters of the American Revolution and Dames of the Magna Carta.She married Harold Eugene Ballew on Dec. 9, 1949, in Fayette, Mo. He survives.Other survivors include a daughter, Constance Johnson, Stanwood, Wash.; a son, Steven Ballew, Lawrence; and one grandchild.The family will receive friends at 9 a.m. before the service at the church.The family suggests memorials to the Douglas County Visiting Nurses, Rehabilitation and Hospice Care or Habitat for Humanity in Lawrence, sent in care of Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 64, Baldwin City, KS 66006.Online condolences may be sent at lamb-roberts.com.