Former Branson mayor, businessman dies at 97

Stanley Ball, a former Branson businessman, alderman and mayor, died March 27 at The Neighborhoods at Quail Creek in Springfield. He was 97.

For the city, Ball served on the Branson Board of Aldermen for 13 years, including four years as mayor 1973-77. During his tenure as mayor, Branson hired its first city administrator in 1973 and added a third ward in 1975, expanding the aldermen board to six members from four. The city’s population also grew to 3,011 from 1,916 between 1970 and 1980, according to a news release.

"While Mayor Ball lived his later years in Springfield, he was always up to date on what was happening in Branson. He shared his pride of Branson with his many friends and was always quick to send an email of advice or just a funny thought of the day to me. I will miss his generous and joyful spirit,” Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley said in the release.

A Nixa native and World War II veteran, Ball drove a truck for Standard Oil Co. and, in 1955, purchased a half interest in a Standard Oil dealership in Branson. He later owned and operated an independent Branson insurance firm, Stanley Ball Insurance Agency, until his 1983 retirement.  He was a past board member of Nixa Bank and Empire Bank and was a director on the Central Trust Co. board at the time of his death, according to the city of Branson.

Ball is survived by his daughter, Jo “Tommy” Arcudia, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, according to his online obituary at GreenLawnFuneralHome.com.

Visitation is scheduled 1-2 p.m. April 3 at Green Lawn Funeral Home East, 3540 E. Seminole St., immediately followed by a service. He’ll be buried in Richwood Cemetery in Ozark.