Jerry Lisk Ballard

Jerry Lisk Ballard, age, passed away on January 6, 2026.

After graduating from the Ellerbe, North Carolina High School in 1948, he served his country in the US Air Force during the Korean War. He attended Wingate University and worked five years as a salesman for Swift & Company in Charlotte, NC. He came with Amoco Oil in 1958.

Jerry was married to Mary Lee Smith of China Grove, NC and they were a great team, and moved to parts of the Southeast in Petroleum Marketing positions. They were moved to Knoxville in 1964 where he finished his 30 year career with Amoco as Territory Manager and Area Sales Manager, with marketing responsibilities in eastern Tennessee and Kentucky. During the oil shortages of the 1970s, he served as a Petroleum Industry spokesman giving speeches at Civic Clubs and doing radio talk show interviews.

After retirement, he worked 10 years part-time as a consultant with his close friends, the late Dallas Coffman and his wife Jean, founder of Coffman Oil Co., Morristown, TN.

Jerry is preceded in death by his wife, Lee Smith Ballard; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Oscar Ballard; sisters, Irene Tacket, Lucille Pries, and Jewell Lockhart; brothers, Carson Ballard and J.O. Ballard.

He is survived by brother, Bill Ballard and wife, Mary; as well as several nieces and nephews.

A private burial will be held a later date in China Grove, North Carolina.