Mary Ann Ballew, 93, Pensacola, FL, passed away Friday, March 24, 2023.

Mary Ann was born in Hattiesburg, MS to James and Lovie McDonald on April 11, 1929. From the start she made her presence known. She transferred to Pensacola to work at Bell South as a telephone operator, teller, and service representative. Mary Ann was a faithful member of the Telephone Pioneers. She retired from AT&T after 38 years. She met William Ballew in 1957 on a blind date. They dated for three years, and he finally proposed Easter weekend of 1960. They married September 11, 1960, and were married 58 years until Bill's death October 8, 2018. This is when Mary Ann promptly began her romance with Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott, unbeknownst to them.

Mary Ann leaves behind her nieces and nephews who she always considered her children, Ann Campbell (Jim), Jack Cheshire (Kristi), Mary Lynn Barone, David McDonald (Dawn), Jim Steele, Sharon Ford (Steve), Amy Emma (Tom), Sandra Clark (Daniel), Susan Askew (Bob), Daniel McDonald, Sonny Rice, Michael McDonald, Lysa Rousse (David), and Ann Kolander (John). But we cannot leave out her forever best friends, Sara Haynes and Mildred Ingram. Honorary family members include Ethel Knight and Jackie Dycus who have been nothing short of… But her friends would be too long to list but she always said, "To have a friend, you must be a friend first."

Kudos go out to Amy Emma, her #1 caregiver, Hospice Nurse DJ Frank, along with her two fabulous home health care nurses and last but not least, Jeanette Blackshear her neighbor and personal chef who was always on call. She was always a very happy person and stated many, many times that she had a great life with no regrets.

Visitation will be held 11:30am until a Funeral Service to begin at 12:30pm Friday, March 31, 2023, at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Covenant Hospice, 5041 N. 12th Ave. Pensacola, FL 32504.