James Stewart Ball

Nov 29, 1953 -

Oct 15, 2024

The love of my life James Stewart Ball passed away at our home in Chugiak. Although his death was quick, his life was long and full of wonderful experiences. In his words, he lived a good life and was very fortunate to be able to do all the things he had done." Stewart was born in Maxwell California and his family moved to Anchorage Alaska in 1965 so his father could work in the oilfields of the North Slope. Although he didn't like Alaska when they first arrived – because the city of Anchorage was so much bigger than Maxwell California - he soon grew to love all that Alaska had to offer, especially the hunting, fishing, and beauty of the wilderness. Stewart had many jobs throughout his 70 years of life – his earliest was working on a sheep farm on Umnak Island in the Aleutians, and then as a maintenance technician at the Anchorage Westward Hotel, followed by short stints in Utah and California. He eventually found his way back to Alaska. and went to work as a laborer for Mat-Su Contractors, Inc. where he met and married his first wife and they had a baby girl, Jennifer. He then moved to Fairbanks and bought a transmission repair shop. He sold the business in Fairbanks after a few years, and came back to Anchorage to be closer to his daughter and then started his career in the construction industry. He worked for Stephan and Sons and eventually became a truck driver, first as an owner-operator working for multiple Contractors on projects ranging from the North Slope to Anchorage. He finished his career working as a lowboy driver as a member of Teamsters Local 959, hauling heavy equipment around Southcentral Alaska for GMC Contracting, Inc. where he met Cherie and subsequently retired after 17 years.

Stewart was proceeded in death by his parents, Addison and Edith Ball; and his older brother, Jon Ball. Stewart is survived by his wife, Cherie Ball; daughter, Jennifer Ball; sister, Cathy Johnson (Mike) and their children Susie and Andy; niece, Jona and her family; stepdaughters, Megan Gojenola, Lindsey Brown (Adam), and Chelsea Trudeau (Mike); granddaughters, Ivy Jane and Mary Jo Trudeau; and grandsons, Paxson Stanley and Brooks David Brown.

A celebration of life will be held on November 9 beginning at 3 p.m., at GMC Contracting, Inc., 351 E Int'l Airport Road, Anchorage. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Glioblastoma Brain Cancer Research, or Friends of Pets.

Stewart's advice to everyone reading this obituary is to live your life to the fullest, do not put off trips, experiences, dreams, or opportunities for true love – you never know when God will call you home. Stewart's remains will be spread with the ashes of his beloved Yorkie "Penny Lane," in the spring of 2025.