Obituary for Visa Bales

Visa June Bales was born August 13th, 1934 to Francis Gay Wilson and Hattie Gracie Clark Wilson in Ponca City, OK and was called to her Heavenly home to on Friday evening, December 26, 2014. June as she was affectionately called lived in the Ponca City area her entire life.

On December 19th, 1948, when June was only 14 years old, she married the love of her life and her next door neighbor: James Robert Bales, Sr. They made their home for many years on old highway 60 across the old River Bridge. It was on this farm that June and J.R. raised their 6 natural children: JR, Ernie, Vicki, Steve, Debbie and Rocky, and several other “children of the heart”. For you see, anytime anyone had problems, nowhere to turn or just family issues – they could always count on June & JR to lend them a bed and a place to stay for however long they needed it. Although the original farm house was only 2 bedrooms and one bathroom, the “Bunkhouse” always had an extra bed and June and JR always had an extra spot or 2 at the kitchen table. It was just this way that several additional people came to live with them, but none of them took a place in June’s heart as much as Pete Epperson, who was accepted into the Bales’ family and was considered one of the kids and part of the family. So it was only natural when you asked June how many kids she had; she would always pause before answering.

From her children June also inherited several new daughters and sons that she called her in-laws or sometimes her out-laws depending on the day of the week. She loved her daughter-in-laws: Michele & Paula and she loved her son-in-laws: John & Jeff. June had 27 grandchildren including: Toni, Nikki, Robert, Ali, Todd, Kelby, Chad, Kesha, Brandon, Cody, Scott, Christopher, Jeff, Kristi, Michael, Jerrod, John Robert, Rob, Lindsey, Danielle, Courtney, Trevor, Matthew, Shawn and Lindsey, plus she always included her 3 angels – grandsons Scotty and Blake "PYT* and granddaughter Neffanie. She also has 33 great-grand-children and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Over her lifetime, June worked alongside her husband as they started building their businesses starting with, H & B Hatchery which grew into Jay’s Farm & Ranch Supply currently located at 307 West Grand and now run by their eldest son. June got her Real Estate license in the early 80’s and worked as a Realtor for over 25 years until she retired. June had many hobbies but her family was the biggest hobby she enjoyed. Her other hobbies were listening to country music, reading romance novels, and watching movies & television. She loved old Westerns, her favorite movie of all time was Dirty Dancing and her favorite television show was NCIS, which she would watch over and over and over.

June was a member of the First Free Will Baptist Church of Ponca City, where JR & she renewed their wedding vows in 2006, just a few months prior to his death, with several of their children, grandchildren and great-grand children in attendance. June wore many hats in her lifetime and earned the titles of wife, Mother, sister, Grandma, Aunt and friend. She was one in a million! June is survived by her children, Son – JR Bales, Jr. and his wife Michele of Ponca City, Son – Ernie Bales and his wife Paula – of Ponca City, Daughter – Vicki Navarre and her husband John of Trophy Club, TX, Son – Steve Bales of Ponca City, Daughter Deborah Sharp and her husband Jeff of Ponca City and Son – Roger “Rocky” Bales, her sister in law Anita Bales of Brandon, Miss, Nephews: Kennard Bales of Collinsville, Okla., Alvin Thompson and his wife Janiece of Ark City, KS, Rick Cochran of Ponca City, Kevin Wilson of Ponca City, David Broughton of Lawrenceville, GA , Nieces: Rena Cochran Fuhr & her husband David of Southfork, CO, Jessica and Jamie Bales of Brandon, Miss. Brother: Gay Lorn “Sonny” Wilson and his wife Anna of Ponca City. Aunt – Ernestine Beck of Ponca City, 29 grand children, 33 great-grand children and 2 great-great grandchildren.

June was preceded in death by her husband JR, son: Pete Epperson, 2 grandsons: Thomas Blake "PYT" Bales and Scotty Bales, granddaughter Neffanie Bales, her mother Hattie G Wilson Horn, her father Frances Gay Wilson, her step – father: Frank Horn, her mother-in-law Minnie Mae Cokk Bales Hand, her step father-in-law C.W. Hand, her father-in-law Zeb Bales, her brother-in-laws Tony Neal Bales, Donald Dean Bales & Larry Gene Bales, sister-in-law: Oleta Marie Bales. Sisters: Questa Price & Tawnya Horn. Brother: Randy F Horn.

The family will be receiving family and friends, Monday evening, December 29th at Trout Funeral Homes for 6:00 -8:00 P.M. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, December 30th at 2:00 P.M. at the Trout Funeral Home, Ponca City, Okla with the Rev. Adam Phillips officiating. Burial will be at the Longwood Cemetery, NE of Ponca City. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home and Crematory.

Pall Bearers will be June’s grandsons: Robert Bales, Todd Bales, Chad Bales, Brandon Bales, Christopher Navarre. Jeffrey Navarre, Jerrod Sharp, John Robert Sharp, Michael Bales.

Honorary Pall Bearers: Kelby Bales, Scott Navarre, Kennard Bales, Alvin Leroy Thompson, Jeff Sharp, John Navarre, David Newlin, Rick Cochran, Gay Lorn Wilson, Kevin Wilson, Ron Colberg, Frank Sturtz, Alvin Thompson, Robert Feaster, David Moorehead, James Ray Bales, Curtis Bales, Ralph Epperson, Cody Epperson, Trevor Bales, Rob Jones, Matthew Bales Sullivan & Shawn Bales.

In Lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in June’s name to the Free Will Baptist Church. The family will be at the home of Ernie & Paula Bales, 7167 Lake Road of Ponca City

Source: Trout Funeral Home