The Ball Family Cemetery is located on the Ball Ranch, north of Hayden. Buried at this site are Willie D. Ball and the ashes of John Ola Balls sister Annie Lois Rogers Adams. It is John Ola's wish that she will also be placed at rest next to her husband.

Willie D. Ball was born on July 17, 1902, near Hillsboro, Hill County Texas to Effie Callaway and John Ball who were ranchers. He joined the U.S. Army in 1922 and was sent to San Francisco, California. After the service he moved to Routt County in 1927. Bill returned to California and married John Ola Sealy on December 28, 1927, in Oakland. He returned with his bride in early January, 1928. They lived in several places around the Hayden area. Bill jokingly said, "every full moon the chickens got in the habit of jumping into the coop ready to move on." Bill worked for Isadore Bolton from 1937 to 1953 herding sheep and cattle. He also ran his own cattle ranch. Bill and John Ola raised four children: Billy born 1929, David born 1931, John born 1933 and Sonya born 1937. Bill was a Mason from 1945 until 1992 when he passed away.

John Ola Sealy was born May 20, 1900 in Meridan, Bosque County, Texas to Emma Lula Gibson and James Newton Sealy.
She was named after her maternal grandfather, John Wheat Gibson and a cousin on her father's side of the family. Her parents had lived in Florida prior to moving to Texas. She attended high school in Crosbyton, Texas and graduated there. That fall her family moved to Oakland, California and purchased a grocery store. John Ola continued her education by attending the University of California (Berkley) majoring in education. After Bill and John Ola were married and started a family, John Ola began teaching. She taught school in several areas including summer school in Moffat County, the Dunstan School and also worked in the HOSTS program at the Hayden Elementary School. John Ola joined the Eastern Star Chapter in 1945. She helped to institute the Hayden Rainbow Assembly in 1945 and was an advisor in 1954 - 1955.

From the land records it shows that this site was patented by Howard D. Beeler in 1922. Beeler sold to Lucius H. Flint in 1933. It appears that Flint sold to Willie D. Ball in 1937. In 1991 the land was transferred to the family. For more information on this family refer to family stories F16 and F17 in the first edition of the History of Hayden & West Routt County 1876 - 1989.

ROUTT COUNTY CEMETERY: #RT028
COLOARDO HISTORICAL SITE: #5RT957
LOCATION: 2840 ft East of Routt County Road 74
BURIALS: 2 burials with 2 inscribed stones from 1986 to 1992
CONDITION: 23 ft x 24 ft in good condition, enclosed with a metal fence, no sign
USGS QUAD MAP: HOOKER MOUNTAIN, COLO. 7.5 1971; UTM 13; 309580 mE 4489070 mN
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: T7N R88W 6th PM; SE4, SE4, NE4, SW4 SEC 27

© 2004-2008 Roger & Joyce Cusick
National Association for Cemetery Preservation, Inc.nacpinc@hotmail.com

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