Earnest Gene Ballard, 72, of Lone Jack, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 27, 2006 at Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO; burial in Lone Jack Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.

Earnest was born on August 29, 1934, in Centerview, Missouri, the son of Fred Amos and Dorothy (Lilleston) Ballard. He married Edith G. Schaller on June 16, 1956. He was heavy equipment operator for Local #101. Earnest enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid horseback rider.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, two brothers, Marshall Ballard & Dort Ballard, and one sister, Opal Wiseman.

His survivors include: One son: Greg Ballard & his wife, Stacy, of the home; One sister: Neva Hobbs & her husband, Jackie, of Holden, MO; One brother: Virgil Ballard & his wife, Susan, of Holden, MO; Many nieces, nephews, cousins & friends.