Marilyn "Mickie" Kammerer Ball

Marilyn “Mickie” Kammerer Ball, a long-time resident of Houston County, Alabama, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, the 9th of September, after a long life filled with love and laughter.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 12, 1931, she found her calling as a Registered Nurse.  She volunteered for the United States Air Force, achieving the rank of First Lieutenant.  While stationed in New Mexico, she met the love of her life, Billy, whom she wed just three months later.  Not long after they exchanged vows, Mickie left the Air Force to start a family.  She was devoted to Bill and her family, and gladly relocated numerous times throughout Bill’s military career.  Her children will tell you that Mickie and Bill were in love, and never had so much as a disagreement.  When Bill retired, he built her a home near Dothan, where they finally laid down roots.

Mickie never lost her passion for nursing, and after thirty years she went back to work at Flowers Hospital.  She transferred to Southeast Alabama Medical Center after several years, and continued working there until her retirement.  She enjoyed sharing her knowledge and skills with upcoming young nursing students, teaching several courses at Wallace Community College.

Mickie was a devout Catholic, and a long time parishioner of St. Columba Catholic Church.  She was very active in her community, volunteering at the election polling sites, delivering holiday meals to the homebound, assisting low income families with tax preparation, and spending immeasurable time helping out wherever she was needed.  Mickie enjoyed playing games with her family, especially Pinochle and Cribbage.  She was an avid reader and solved thousands of crossword puzzles.  She was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan, and relished sharing stories about attending games at Sportsman’s Park as a member of the “Knothole Gang”, watching greats like Red Schoendienst, Dizzy Dean, and her favorite, Ennis Slaughter.  Above all else, Mickie cherished the time she spent with her family and friends.

Mickie is predeceased by her loving husband, Billy, as well as her big sister, Thelma Mast, and grandson, Jason Ramsey.  Mickie is survived by younger sister, Joanne Gaal of St. Louis, MO, and four loving children, Blake Ball of Clayton, NC, Monica Cheryl Clonts of St. James, MO, Mary Ramsey of Birmingham, AL, and Marcia Riley of Houston County, AL.  She also leaves behind seven grandsons, Taylor, Emmett, Kevin, Eric, Christopher, Joshua, and William.  Her two great grandchildren, Luke and Jaselyn, brought her much joy.

Services for Marilyn “Mickie” Kammerer Ball will be held at St. Columba Catholic Church Chapel, in Dothan, AL, on Wednesday, September 14, 2016, at 2 pm.  A graveside service will follow at Springhill UMC Cemetery in Campbellton, Florida.  The family requests that donations be made to St. Columba Catholic Church or SARCOA South Alabama Regional Council on Aging, in lieu of flowers.