Ann Ervin Bolton Ball 

A grandmother of eight Ann was a truly prolific writer, the author of numerous books, articles, and pamphlets on saints and Catholic history, crafts, devotions, and art. Her diversity of interests was the source of much popularity among her readers. As she wrote on her web site, www.annball.com: “I was born the type of person who is curious about everything. That trait has stayed with me all my life, and I have spent many happy hours investigating all kinds of things.” She began publishing as a way to express her own love of crafts, history and especially the Catholic faith. Ann Ball also dedicated her time to many other causes including the cause for canonization of the Mexican Jesuit Miguel Pro. She had completed the history of All Saints Church and was currently writing the history of the Basilian Fathers Missions and quarterly wrote the Basilian Missions Newsletter. Consulted by CNN on several occasions Ball was an internationally well-known expert on the saints and she collaborated with hagiographers, writers, researchers and Catholics from around the world through the Internet. Ball was also a private investigator and owner of All State Guard Service. As a member of the Associated Security Services and Investigators of the state of Texas, her company mainly served the Houston area since 1992. Ann Ervin Bolton Ball was born in Dallas on May 13, 1944, the daughter of Ora Louise and Julian Bolton. After attending Jacksonville High School, class of 1962, she graduated from the University of Houston with a bachelor's degree in education and was a lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi. A convert to Catholicism, she taught at Corpus Christi School, St. Thomas High School and Marian Christian High School. She is survived by her daughter, Joanna Ball, of Houston; son and daughter-in-law, Sam and Danielle Ball, of Houston; adopted son Raul Quintero of Monterrey, Mexico; her brother, Charles "Chuck" Bolton, of Miami, Fla.; sister and brother-in-law, Julie and Terry Bolton Smith, of Dallas; nephew, Brett Douglas and his wife, Linda, of Keller; niece, Julianne Douglas Sanford and husband, Curtis, of Jacksonville; grandchildren, Austin Wilken, Max, Victoria, Brenden, Christian, Karolyn and Katharyn Ball, of Houston; Michael Quintero of Georgia; great niece, Courtney Sanford Foster and husband Joe, of Montgomery; Jaci and Caylee Sanford, of Jacksonville; Courtney Harper, of Bullard; Christi, Erin, and Lauryn Bell, of Keller; great nephews, Jeremy Sanford, of Jacksonville; and Dalton Douglas, of Bullard; numerous cousins; and multitudes of friends worldwide. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 1p.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2008, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 9900 Stella Link Road, Houston, TX 77025, 713-667-0497. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be sent to: “Basilian Fathers Missions,” P.O. Box 708, Sugar Land, TX 77487-0708 or Casa Juan Diego. Published in the Jacksonville Daily Progress on 6/13/2008.

Published in the Jacksonville Daily Progress