Donovan Carrol Ball

Donovan Carrol Ball, 76, of Kansas City, Kan., died Thursday, May 12, 2011, at the Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Merriam, Kan. He was born on Sept. 26, 1934, near Centerville, Kan., the son of Forrest Donovan and Cecile Louise Knight Ball. He attended school at Keokuk and Centerville. He graduated from Parker Rural High School in 1952.

During his childhood he enjoyed raising livestock, trucking with his father, cars, and playing sports. He shared many stories of fast cars and pretty girls, but loved most, his friends from school. He was even in the senior class play titled "One Wild Night." After high school he joined the United States Army where he served for one year until a leg injury required him to come back home and go to Kansas City for surgery. He was discharged honorably.

Carrol owned and operated Carrol Ball Auto Salvage, Carrol Ball Transport, and KC Transfer. He worked in the auto salvage business, cattle, farming, pipe, oil, and trucking business in Centerville until 1983 when he moved his trucking company to Kansas City. He was a member of the Centerville Community Church, Parker Masonic Lodge and the Mirza Shrine Temple. He rode motorcycles with the Mirza Shrine. He had friends all over the United States and he loved to drop by and visit or take vacations to see them.

Carrol was preceded in death by his parents and his stepmother, Winona Ball. He is survived by three children and two stepchildren, Michelle Meiwes of Moran, Kan., Mark Wilson and wife, Kristi, of Overland Park, Kan., Joann Peine and husband, Bob, of Parker, Kan., Lonnie Ball and wife, Melanie of Olathe, Kan., and Jon Ball and wife, Melissa, of Shawnee, Kan.; 13 grandchildren, Kasey, Matt, Joe and Nick Meiwes, Nathan and Jamie Wilson, Damon, Lee and Donovan Ball, Trint, Justin and Chaylin Peine.

Services will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 15, at the Centerville Community Church in Centerville, Kan. Visitation will be held from 3 to 5 p.m., Saturday, May 14, at the Coffel-Schneider Funeral Home Mound City, Kan. Burial will be in the Centerville Cemetery. The family suggests contributions to the Shiners' Children's Hospital or the Centerville Community Church. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.coffelschneider.com.

Arrangements are made by the Coffel-Schneider Funeral Home Mound City, Kan.