Obituary

Lightning Ridge Cemetery
Pontotoc County, Oklahoma

© Criswell Funeral Home

Marilyn (Ray) Balch

September 19, 1957 - December 14, 2023

© Criswell Funeral Home

Submitted by: Sandy Bain

Services for Marilyn Balch, age 66, are at 1:00 PM, Thursday, December 21, 2023 at Criswell Funeral Home Chapel, Ada, OK, Bud Ross officiating. A family graveside service will follow at Lightning Ridge Cemetery, Roff, OK. A family visitation will be Wednesday, December 20th, from 5-7 pm, at Criswell Funeral Home, Ada, OK. Marilyn passed away on December 14, 2023 with her family gathered bedside as she happily met her savior.

Marilyn was born to John E. (Johnny) Ray and Juanita L. Coffey Ray on September 19, 1957. She went to Ada schools where she was the yearbook editor and graduated in the class of 1975. Marilyn went on to graduate from East Central University, Ada, Oklahoma, with a bachelor’s degree in English. Over the years she shared her many talents while holding positions in different career fields. She worked at TG&Y as a teen, Ada Evening News as a typist and proofreader, and a HR administrative assistant at Valley View Hospital. For a short time she was an English teacher in Marietta, OK. Other various jobs over the years include: Memorial Hospital in Savannah, GA, Site Director at Central Texas College in Fort Riley, Kansas, civil service jobs, and later worked at Prepaid Legal. She was actively involved with the Army Wives Group wherever they were stationed. Marilyn was a member of Southwest Church of Christ.

Marilyn and Stan met on a blind date, and they married on June 6, 1980. They had 2 sons of whom they are very proud. Marilyn and Stan were world travelers in their early years when Stan was in the Army. Marilyn returned to Ada in 2006 to build their forever home on her grandparent’s land.

She loved cats and rescued many over the years. Marilyn was an avid reader, loved to collect depression glass and antiques, and loved to quilt. She loved decorating for the holidays and hosting family gatherings. She especially loved Christmas and enjoyed decorating her tree in different themes. She had a kind and gentle soul and had a smile that lit up the room. Her quick and funny wit was always entertaining.

She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents, John Thomas and Lela Moss Ray and Willie and Clara Burl Reynolds Coffey. She is survived by her husband, Stanley Balch, Roff, OK; sons, Dr. Wade Balch and wife Amber, Mobile, AL and John Balch, Ada, OK; sisters, Mary Ray, Edmond, OK and Brenda Flowers and husband Darren, Ada, OK; grandchildren, Aisling and Cash Balch, Great Falls, MT and Richter Balch, Ada, OK; step-grandchildren, Emma Vance, Aiden Lash, Coralee Corbin, and Willow Corbin; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Pallbearers are Stan Balch, John Balch, Darren Flowers, Ryan Skillern, Don Wray and Kevin Flowers. Honorary pallbearers are Wade Balch and Gary Balch.

Criswell Funeral Home, Ada