Margaret Lee Coates Ball

I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him will I trust." Psalm 91:2

Margaret Lee Coates Ball, died May 6, 2010, at Indian Path Hospital. She was born April 24, 1919, in Kingsport, and grew up on a dairy farm on Long Island in Kingsport. She graduated from Sullivan High School in 1939, and worked at J. C. Penney and J. Fred Johnson department stores as Advertising Manager and Display Artist in the 1940's. She married Carl Glen Ball in 1946, moved to Fall Branch, and became a homemaker.

She was a member of First Baptist Church, Fall Branch, since 1946, and served faithfully in various job roles, including many years as a Sunday School teacher and Church Clerk, and was involved in many prayer ministries. She was a prolific poet and artist who honored God with her many talents.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, Sarah Effie Grills Coates and Arthur Lee Coates; and brothers, Paul Coates, Joe Coates, and Howard Coates.

Surviving are her son, Ken Ball and wife, Peggy, Asheville, NC; daughter, Libby Depew and husband, Mike, Fall Branch; granddaughter, Rhonda Ball Quade and husband, Bill, Asheville, NC; grandson, Heath Depew, Fall Branch; great-grandson, Jacob Quade, Asheville, NC; sisters, Betty Jane Winegar and husband, Rev. George Winegar, Surgoinsville, TN, and Kate Schmutz and husband, Rev. Phil Schmutz, Cincinnati, OH; sisters-in-law, Mary Coates and Thelma Coates, both of Kingsport; extended family, including several nieces, nephews, and cousins; and a host of friends, neighbors, and church family.

The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Fall Branch. Services will follow at 7:00, with Rev. Carl Strickler, Rev. Victor Wallace, and Rev. George Winegar officiating.

Graveside services will be held Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church Cemetery, Fall Branch. The Deacons of First Baptist Church will serve as pallbearers.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Vision Growth Fund at First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 82, Fall Branch, TN 37656, or to Fall Branch Volunteer Fire Department , P. O. Box 84, c/o B. J. Dawson.

The family would like to express special thanks to caregivers and staff at Preston Place II, who have become part of Margaret's extended family since February of this year.