Diane Ballay Ballard passed away on July 9, 2019, in the peace of her home at Windsor Senior Living in Mandeville, Louisiana. She was born on July 11, 1932 to Glen Shomate and Gladys Mattingly Niles in Louisville, Kentucky. She spent her teenage years in Plaquemines Parish, where she met and married her high school sweetheart, Joseph Clement (J.C.) Ballay, III. Together they had five children and operated Ballay’s Beef and Bourbon in Buras, Louisiana. She is predeceased by her daughter, Regina Ballay Venturini, and her son, Joseph Clement Ballay, IV. She is survived by her sons, Michael Charles Ballay (Beverly) and Jon Christopher Ballay, her daughter, Bonnie Ballay Dazet (Everard), and plenty of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who will all dearly miss her fiery spirit that earned her the nickname “Big Red.”
In 1977, Joseph “Joe” Ballard caught Diane’s eye, and they spent forty years together, two of which they lived in Africa. Although they separated late in life, Joe asks about Diane every day and still adores her, as that is the type of permanent impression she leaves behind.
The birth and death of Diane is not nearly as relevant as all the beautiful days in between. She was an avid Saints fan. Diane kept her eyes on the bayou boys almost as close as she kept them on the stock market. She could fry chicken like no other and was the only Southern woman ever spotted wearing a mink coat in the Summer.
Please join Diane’s family to attend the Visitation at MOTHE FUNERAL HOME, 2100 Westbank Expy, Harvey, LA on Friday, July 12, 2019, from 9 AM until Funeral Mass time at 11 AM. Interment will be held Monday, July 15, 2019 at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Gretna, LA at 1:30 PM. To view and sign the online guestbook visit
www.mothefunerals.com
.