SAMUEL AUSBORN BALLARD IV

Funeral services for Samuel Ausborn Ballard IV, 85, will be held at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, December 27, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. at the Gorman Funeral Homes – Converse Chapel in Douglas, Wyoming with Pastor Tim Ricker of the Frontier Baptist Church officiating.  Interment will be in the Douglas Park Cemetery.
Sam Ballard died Thursday, December 20, 2018 at the Memorial Hospital of Converse County in Douglas.
Sam was born Sunday, June 4, 1933 in Douglas, Wyoming the son of Samuel Ausborn Ballard III and Mabel Eliza (Gitthens) Ballard.  
Sam was raised with two brothers, Walter and Monte and a sister, Barbara, in Douglas.  At the age of 15, he joined the United States Navy.  After a medical discharge, he returned to Douglas to complete high school.  While enrolled at University of Wyoming, Sam met his first wife, Linda, and to this union were born Samuel V. and Susan.  He later moved to Colorado where he met and married Awanda Althea (Graney) Smith in 1960, who had three children of her own, Stephanie, Douglas, and Curtis.  Together they had a daughter, Rebecca.  They lived in Denver, Steamboat Springs, Oak Creek, Montrose, and Mancos, Colorado before moving to Sam’s home town of Douglas in 1978.  Sam and Awanda enjoyed traveling, golf, bowling, their friends, and their many trips together.
Throughout the years, Sam had a great impact on many people and created many long lasting friendships.  He will be missed by many, including all his children, his ten grandchildren, and many great grandchildren.
Sam was preceded in death by his father, Samuel Ballard III, on December 19, 1953; his mother, Mabel Ballard, on April 4, 1978; and his wife, Awanda, on December 23, 2011.
Serving as pallbearers will be Shane Green, Curtis Smith Jr., Dean Smith, Darwin Smith, Dillon Hobbs, and Josh Maidl.
Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday, December 26, 2018 from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.
A memorial to the Douglas Senior Citizens’ Center, P.O. Box 192, Douglas, Wyoming 82633 would be appreciated by the family.
The Gorman Funeral Homes – Converse Chapel of Douglas, Wyoming is in charge of the arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com

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