SOPHIA OLIVE

NEVADA, Mo.- Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Pryor Creek Cemetery near Metz for Sophia Mildred Olive, 98, a former Nevada resident, who died Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, at Truman Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Lamar.

In light of current health concerns, attendees are highly encouraged to practice social distancing and mask wearing. If standing will be a concern, please bring a lawn-chair to the service.

Arrangements are under the direction of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, Mo.

Donations may be sent to Pryor Creek Cemetery or the Juvenile Diabetes Association, in care of the funeral home.

The obituary may be viewed and condolences sent online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.

Survivors include daughters, Mary Jo Nichols and husband James, Lamar and Ann Signer, Chicago, Ill. and grandchildren, Tara Aesquivel and husband Virgillio, Los Angeles, Calif., Lauren Nichols and fiancé Keenan Brown, Joplin, Sam Signer, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. and Sarah Signer, Overland Park, Kan. She was also survived by her precious great-grandson Adler Aesquivel, Los Angeles, Calif.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Olive; a daughter, Martha Caroline Olive and three older brothers, Samuel Ballinger, Ford Ballinger and Frank Ballinger.

Mrs. Olive was born Aug. 6, 1922, in Lebanon, Tenn., to Ford Oliver and Martha Ann (Riggan) Ballinger. During her second grade year, her family moved to Old Hickory, Tenn. She was a star basketball player, voted as one of the top three forwards in Tennessee.

Mrs. Olive began her career with Tennessee Valley Authority at the Kentucky Dam. She married Joe Cannon Olive on July 10, 1945, in Woodbine, Ga. They moved to a farm near Metz in September, 1946.

She worked for the Nevada school system as secretary at Benton Elementary School for over 20 years until her retirement.

Mrs. Olive enjoyed bowling and bowled for over 50 years in Nevada and with traveling teams, sustaining a high average and winning many awards. She was one of the first women in the Nevada area to be inducted into the Nevada USBC Association Hall of Fame in 2010.