Martha L. Ball, 72, of Independence, Missouri, died Thursday, March 4, 1999, at Baptist Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. She had suffered a heart attack at her home in Independence.

She was born October 10, 1926, in Willis, Kansas, the daughter of Harvey E. and Hazel Murphy Modeland. She graduated from Willis High School and St. Anthony Murdock Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Sabetha.

On December 26, 1948, she married Lynval E. Ball in Horton. They lived on a farm west of Oneida until 1966, when they moved to Independence, Missouri. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in December of 1998.

During her career as a registered nurse, she worked at the Seneca, Sabetha and Hiawatha hospitals. She also served as a private duty nurse in the area. She was a homemaker, helped her husband on the farm and with the Ball Grocery Store in Oneida. More recently she worked at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri until her retirement.

She participated in the Order of the Eastern Star and was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Independence, Missouri. She enjoyed singing with the Sweet Adelines for many years. She was an organizer and hostess for her nursing school alumni reunions.

Survivors are her husband Lynvall E. Ball of the home; her children, Lynn Bain of Effingham, Deanna Smith of Olathe, Mary Lue Courtney of Independence, Lynvall Ball II of Independence, and Kerby Ball of Prairie Village; a brother, Owen Modeland of Oklahoma City; 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by an infant brother Linn Modeland and a daughter LaVonne Low.

Visitation was Sunday afternoon at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Funeral service was held at 10 AM Monday at the funeral home by Rev. Nanette Roberts. Soloists were Cyril Steinlage and Tim Courtney, with organist Terry Nordhus. Burial was in the Oneida Cemetery.

Pallbearers were grandsons, Kupono Low, Kenny Low, Aaron Bain, Caleb Bain, Adam Fletcher, Ryan Feltcher and Stephen Courtney.