Gary Wayne Ballard, 55, of Brownwood, Texas passed away Monday, July 18, 2022. A visitation with family will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 PM, Friday, July 22, 2022 at Heartland Funeral Home. Funeral service will be at the Heartland Funeral Home Chapel, 2:00 PM, Saturday, July 23, 2022 with interment and military honors to follow at Greenleaf Cemetery in Brownwood.

Gary was born September 28, 1966 in Brownwood, Texas. Gary graduated high school in Brownwood and joined the U.S. Marine Corp, serving his country for over six years. Gary was very proud to be a Marine. Gary operated heavy equipment for a living and worked at Ranger for a good while. He enjoyed talking technical about heavy equipment and Military vehicles with anyone who could talk shop. His favorite place to go was “the farm” at Indian Creek where he spent a lot of his time, he loved to plow, the smell of the fresh tilled ground was addictive & some of his favorite past time was on the farm with his cattle and his dogs. He loved to pick on his brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews, often getting them into trouble for the words he would teach them. “The Claw” was always a favorite when wrestling and picking on them. He called everyone by a nick name, nobody knows why, it was just his thing and when he wasn’t out on the farm, you could find him watching a John Wayne western movie or buying collector’s items.

Gary is survived by his mother, Sally Ballard of Brownwood; son, Brenden Ballard of Brownwood, Texas; brothers, Vincent Carriger of Spring Branch, Texas & Daniel Ballard of Thorndale, Texas; sisters, Sandy Holder of Cedar Creek, Texas & Lee Ballard of May, Texas; and several nieces, nephews, loved ones and friends.

Gary was preceded in death by his dad, Lee O Daniel Ballard & his grandparents.

Online condolences, memorials and tributes can be shared with the family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net.