Betty Joyce Ball

Joyce Ball, 93, of Odessa, Texas, passed away on Sunday, January 19, 2025, in Odessa.

Visitation and funeral services will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home. The visitation is at 1:00 PM, Thursday, January 23, 2025, with the funeral service to follow at 2:00 PM. Dr. Byron McWilliams of First Baptist Church will officiate. 

Betty Joyce Sides was born at home in Lueders, Texas, to Fred Sides and Azalea Dillard Sides on December 1, 1931. She graduated from Lueders High School and went on to graduate from Hardin-Simmons University. She decided on an elementary school teaching career and moved first to Midland, then Odessa. In Odessa, she met Stanley Ball on a blind date. They married on November 7, 1955, and raised two children, LeAnn and Larry. Joyce was an awesome mother, not just when her children were little, but until the day she died. Even more important she was a Christian mother and made sure that her children were raised in a Christian home. Joyce ended up teaching for 53 years. She loved it and she was good at it. She loved playing bridge. She played from the time she was a young woman until macular degeneration took away her ability to see the cards. She also loved and was devoted to the Order of the Eastern Star. Her other two passions were the Permian Panthers and the Texas Longhorns.

Awaiting Joyce in Heaven are her husband, Stanley; her parents, Fred and Azalea Sides; her brothers Fred and Bob Sides; and a multitude of other family members and friends.

Joyce is survived by her daughter, LeAnn Hadden; her son, Larry Ball (Neva); her grandson, Brandon Ball (Diane); step grands, Tiffany Butts (Joe) and Ben Hadden (Linda); her great grandson, Hayes Ball; great step grands, Dawson and Britton Butts, and Emma and Evie Hadden.

The family would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to Cousin Max Dillard, The Courtyards Assisted Living and Memory Care, Hospice of Midland/Odessa, and Trinity Personal Assistant Services for all of the compassionate care and support they provided.