Joan Dolores Quattlebaum

Joan Dolores Quattlebaum, 83, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 17, 2025 in Casa Grande, AZ. Joan was born on October 28, 1941 to Irl and Martha Lowrey in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from North Kansas City High School. She worked in various jobs over the years, with her most important job being the mother and caregiver of six children. While raising her children, she used her administrative skills to help pioneer the Ballard Excavating business in the Northland of Kansas City. Joan's cooking was legendary. She spent a lot of years cooking great food for her children and many of their friends. Her house was the one that all the kids wanted to go to at dinner time. She was known for her big gardens that resulted in delicious canned foods, pickles being the family favorite. Joan spent a lot of road time hauling around her six children, their friends and other neighborhood children to various events, sports and extracurricular activities. Church was a core part of many of the activities. Joan moved to Arizona over 20 years ago with her husband Jim Quattlebaum to enjoy the life of retirement. They loved to play Bingo and made sure they always had time to go play together. Her game playing extended to Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune; she likely could have been quite a contender on both shows. Joan is survived by her daughters Cynthia (Cindy) Gordon and Jill Lawler; sons Thomas (Tom) Ballard, James (Jamie) Ballard, and William (Billy) Ballard; ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren, as well as stepchildren Randy Quattlebaum, Paula Quattlebaum, Dianna Tillery, and Jason Quattlebaum. She was preceded in death by her husband Jim Quattlebaum and her daughter Elizabeth (Lisa) Ballard. Although she is no longer here with us, her spirit will live on through all of the memories we have of her. Joan has requested that there be no formal service. An informal graveside service will be held at a later date.The family asks that memorial donations in memory of Joan be made to the City Union Mission in Kansas City, MO.