Ambrose 'Ammy' Dean Ballard, 45

Ambrose "Ammy" Dean Ballard, 45, passed away Wednesday, May 17, 2006, at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center as the result of a motor-vehicle accident.

He was born June 14, 1960, in Spokane to Boyce and Edithe (Goudy) Ballard. Ammy grew up and attended school in Plains. After graduating from high school he worked at his father's trucking company and later started Ammy's Home Repair, and more recently Broz Trucking and Asphalt business.

He married Vickie Black; they later divorced. He adopted her two children, Christie and Marsha. They had three children together, Desiree, Amy and Ambrose. Later in his life, he was reunited with his son, Cory Vincent. Ammy recently married Cathy Fleck in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. They made their home in Kalispell.

Ammy loved being with his family and was a very devoted father and grandfather. He also loved motorcycles and boating. Ammy will be remembered by his family and friends as someone who was always the first to lend a helping hand.

Ammy was preceded in death by his father; an infant granddaughter, Mercedes; and his stepfather, Dan Burgess.

He is survived by his wife, Cathy Ballard, and her six children, Jacob, Rosie, Josie, Tyler, Lucas and Leanne, all of Kalispell; his four daughters, Christy Smith and husband, Ron, and Marsha Anderson and husband, Landon, all of Kalispell, Desiree Lapierre and husband, Wesley, of Plains, and Amy Larsen and husband, Ivan, of Lonepine, Calif.; his two sons, Ammy Ballard of Lonepine, Calif., and Cory Vincent of Seattle; his mother, Edithe Burgess of Kalispell; three brothers, Boyce Ballard and Ray Ballard of Kalispell, and Bill Ballard of Rawlings, Wyo.; two sisters, Joy Short of White Sulphur Springs, and Gail Theeler of Plains; five grandchildren; Aryan, Maycie, Kaline, Erica and Tanner; and five step-grandchildren; Tucker, Madison, Isiah, Malachi and Kaleb; with numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Ambrose "Ammy" Dean Ballard will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at the Christian Center/Assembly of God church, with the Rev. Paula Forest officiating. Burial will be afterward at the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery with a reception after the burial at the Christian Center, 277 Summit Ridge Drive, in Kalispell.

Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, May 19, and from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 20, in the Johnson Mortuary Chapel; also one hour prior to the service at the Christian Center/Assembly of God church.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Ammy's family.