Gerri Ballew passed away in her home surrounded by the family who loved her on October 9, 2015, shortly after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Her passing was mercifully quick and painless. For this her family will be forever grateful.

Gerri was born in Oklahoma to Floyd and Exean Freeny on June 22, 1942. She married Ronald Edwin Ballew on September 1, 1961 and lived in San Luis Obispo for several years while Ron attended the University there. They loved the California beach culture of the 1960s but eventually realized they wanted to raise their family in the same small town Ron had been raised in.

In 1967 they left San Luis Obispo to establish their home in Eureka. Gerri was one of the first employees of Coast Central Credit Union, working as a teller when they first opened their doors and remaining with CCCU for many years. Gerri went on to work for the Humboldt County Board of Realtors in June of 1975, and was instrumental in establishing the Board as it exists today. Gerri retired from the Board in November of 1991, at which time she opened a small business doing property renovation for the same realtors she has known for years. Eventually Gerri decided a “real” retirement might be nice and she sold the business in 2003.

She was preceded in death by her parents Floyd and Exean Freeny, her sister Susie Freeny, her only son Brian Ballew, and her mother and father in-law Joe and Audry Ballew. She is survived by Ron Ballew, her husband of 54 years, her oldest daughter Monika Ballew, her youngest daughter Danielle Simon and Danielle’s husband Ken Simon, her grandchildren Michelle & Rick Buckingham, Audry & Justin Porter, Jessica Simon and Riley Simon, her great-grandchildren Celia Jack, Christopher Buckingham, Jacob Buckingham and Austin Buckingham, her sister Vicki Frkovich and Vicki’s husband Steve Frkovich, her brother Floyd Freeny Jr., her in-laws, Ken & Shirley Ballew, Carl & Marilee Ballew, and Gary & Cassandra Ballew. Gerri also leaves behind her best friend Jean Manfull, who is loved as an adopted sister to Gerri and remains a close member of the Ballew family.

She also will be greatly missed by her niece and nephew Leah and Gary Truitt who held a special place in her heart. Her large family is too numerous to mention, there are many, many cousins from the Ballew, Booker and Thrash families who will mourn her passing, she was a great lady loved by many and will be missed by all that knew her.

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The obituary above was submitted by Gerri Ballew’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.