Shawn Jean Wrinkle Ballard, 63, of Clyde died peacefully on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 in an Abilene hospice facility after a struggle with renal cancer. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at Bailey Howard Funeral Home Chapel with Sam Nichols officiating.  A visitation will be on Friday at the funeral home from 6:00 until 7:30 p.m.

Shawn was born on December 16, 1954 in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of the late Glenn Wrinkle and Shannon (Tinker) Wrinkle. Shawn thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed crafting, making items for a variety of supplies and she was always surrounded by many beautiful flowering plants. She definitely had a green thumb.

She graduated from Columbia High School on June 4, 1973. Shortly after graduation she moved to Texas where she later met and later married Danny Ballard on November 27, 1976. In addition to raising their three beautiful children, Shawn and Danny owned and managed several service stations in Fort McKavett and Clyde. It was not unusual to see Shawn out fixing a flat on a vehicle, pumping gas or changing the oil under a car. Later in life, she worked as a grocery store stocker at Lawrence Bros, IGA, a freight delivery driver for a company out of Ft. Worth, delivering items such as pharmaceuticals and restaurant supplies. While delivering freight, her two oldest grandchildren, Shelby and Jacob, would take turns going with her to work. Shelby was four and Jacob was barely over a year. She often joked that Jacob knew the route and stops better than she did. She also worked on the construction business for David Self. Many folks in the community have said she was the hardest working woman that they have ever met.

Shawn never had what others would call "an easy life" but you would never know it by the way she kept a smile on her face and she never hesitated to help someone in need. Throughout her life she gained many jewels for her Heavenly crown by giving selflessly to others. She was kind and generous to anyone who crossed her path.

She is survived by her oldest daughter, Tosha (Nathan) Cardenas, daughter, Renee (Jeff) Waggoner, son, Nathan Ballard; three brothers, Bruce (Brenda) Wrinkle, Kevin Wrinkle of Clyde and Brian (Elaine) Wrinkle of Savoy, Illinois; three sisters, Kim (Buzz) Kriner of Gulfport, Mississippi, Kelly (Keith) Regan of Tennessee and Heather (Joe) Summerson of Guntersville, Alabama; her mother Shannon Wrinkle of Illinois; her close friend and companion Russell Raymond; grandchildren, Shelby Waggoner, Jacob Waggoner, Joshua Waggoner, Natalie Waggoner, Baylor Cardenas and Hollynd Cardenas; great grandchild, Ericka Raylee Valdez; numerous nieces and nephews and countless close friends and other relatives.