Clearwater Tribune, March 21, 2013
Maldarine Ball McKinney, 97, area resident
Maldarine Ball McKinney passed away March 19, 2013 after a long and happy life in the Pierce and Weippe area. She was born in Kamiah on Dec. 13, 1915 to Earl and Elizabeth Shaw. The family moved to Orofino where she attended high school. It was there she met Hilmer Ball and they were married in 1931.
They moved to Pierce where Hilmer worked in the woods for Fromelt Logging and then at the Cardiff sawmill. While working there, they had four children, Janice Shubert, Ronnie Ball, Cheryl Smolinski and Terry Ball. Ronnie was later killed in a sledding accident. She was very close to her sister Mattie Ball, who lived close to her and was a mother figure. Hilmer and Maldarine then bought a house in Weippe. Hilmer then worked in Orofino for Joe Richardson as a sawyer int he saw mill. They lived in Weippe until Hilmer passed away on Nov. 19, 1974.
Maldarine was very active in school affairs, belonging to and working with the PTA. She was a chaperone on the busses for kids going to Orofino for swimming lessons. She also helped at school food sales and attended ball games and school dances where her daughter, Cheryl, was a cheerleader and son, Terry, played baseball, football and basketball. She was a librarian for the Weippe Library, past Noble Grand at the White Pine Rebekah Lodge and belonged to the pinochle club.
She married Willard McKinney June 10, 1977. They sold their home in Weippe and moved to Peck where she belonged to the Peck Community Club and Bunco club.
Large family gatherings were a happy part of her life. She also had a large doll collection and a large collection of antique glassware.
She loved to travel and made several trips to Cordova, AK to visit her granddaughter, Sharon, and several trips to Branson, MO and Nashville, TN. She enjoyed trips to Nevada with family and friends.
She lived at Brookside Landing in Orofino for several years where she made many new friends. After falling and breaking her leg, she was moved to Life Care Center in Lewiston where she passed away.
She is survived by three children, Janice Shubert, Cheryl and Jerry Smolinski and Terry and Charlene Ball. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and 6 great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years Hilmer Ball; son, Ronnie; sisters, Mattie Ball, Mary Crisman, Margaret Shaw; brother, Jerry Shaw; and her late husband, Willard McKinney.
Graveside servoces will be Monday, March 25 at 11 a.m. at Orofino Riverside Cemetery.
Pine Hills Funeral Chapel is caring for arrangements.
Transcribed by Michal Berreth-Beck, 2014