Mary Lou Ballew, 88, of Slater, died Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at The Living Center in Marshall.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at 11 a.m. at Slater United Methodist Church, with Pastor Molly Moore officiating.  Burial will be in Slater City Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 10 until

11 a.m. Tuesday at the church.  Memorials are suggested to Slater United Methodist Church in care of Weiker Funeral Home in Slater.

Born December 9, 1933 in Pilot Grove, she was the daughter of the late Louis G. and Louise Masel Paxton.  On July 5, 1952 in Marshall, she married Clarence D. Ballew, and he preceded her in death on May 1, 2000.

She is survived by two sons, Larry Dean Ballew and his wife Karen of Macon, and Darrell Wayne Ballew of Slater; two daughters, Linda Kay Horst and her husband Robert of Boonville, and Donna Jean Gilliam of Gilliam; seven grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by a grandson, Matthew Ray Horst on August 10, 2021.

Mary was a longtime active member of the Slater United Methodist Church.  She was raised in the Pilot Grove area, and moved to the Ty and Gertrude Smith Farm north of Slater, before moving to Slater in 1965. She was a head start teacher’s aide for twenty-five years, working at the Slater, Marshall, and Brunswick facilities.  Following her retirement, she worked at the Slater Senior Center and Slater Public Schools.  She attended Pilot Grove Elementary School, and was a 1973 graduate of Slater High School.  She enjoyed gardening, house plants, and word search books.  She loved her church family and friends.