Allene Ballard Cope, 90, of Coleman, died Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at Holiday Hill Nursing Home. Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 30, 2016 at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel, 400 West Pecan Street, Coleman, with Rev. Courtney Ballard officiating, assisted by Rev. Jeff Dean. Burial will be in the Coleman City Cemetery, under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.

She was born Florence Allene Ballard on April 30, 1926 in Fisk to Chester Newton Ballard and Etta Amarentha Frazier Ballard. She grew up in Fisk and graduated from Mozelle High School in 1943. One October 28, 1944, she married V.V. “Jiggs” Cope in Coleman. He preceded her in death on July 10, 1995. She worked at Coleman County Medical Center as a Nurse Aide and also sat with patients in the hospital or their homes. She was a member of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary and a member of North Coleman Baptist Church.

Survivors include two daughters, Shirley Hayes and husband, Phillip, of Venus, Patsy Cope of Coleman; one son, Tommy Cope and wife, Tammy, of Brownwood; her chosen son, Ronald Baker and wife Maxine, of Pasadena; one brother, Chester Ballard of Brownwood; three sisters, Aleta Trigg of Corpus Christi, Clara Row of Midland, Joan Stanton of Silsbee; eight grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides her husband, Mrs. Cope was preceded in death by four brothers, Bill Ballard, Wiley Ballard, Jim Ballard, Courtney Ballard; four sisters, Melba Wesson, Roselene Metts, Mary Williams, Jean Groze; granddaughter, Adrienne Slayton and great grandson, Keith Gage Slayton.

Visitation with the family will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, July 29, 2016 at Stevens Funeral Home.

(Coleman Chronicle and Democrat-Voice, Coleman, Texas, July 26, 2016. Used with permission.)