Laura Ballou

Laura K. Ballou (nee Stastny), 94, of Las Vegas, passed away, May 5, 2017. She was born July 25, 1922, the youngest of seven children to John Albert Stastny and Magdalene F. Henniger in Mandan, N.D. The family moved to Ely in 1928, where she graduated from high school in 1939. Laura attended beauty school in Los Angeles in 1940, then worked for Douglas Aircraft in 1942. She married Don Mosher that year. Their daughter was born in December 1943, and they were divorced the same year. Laura worked for Boeing Aircraft plant #1, and married Roland Ballou in 1945. They had two daughters, Emily and Cena. Laura and Roland were divorced in Las Vegas in 1951. Laura worked at Nellis Air Force Base for several year, then started A-1 Answering Service in 1961 with her eldest daughter, Donna. They sold the business to one of the grandsons after 50 years in business. Laura was preceded in death by her mother; father, six siblings; and one granddaughter. She is survived by three daughters, Donna K. Robinson, Jean Benson (EJ) and Cena Small (Steve), all of Las Vegas; eight grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren; and companion of 47 years, Lynn Griffin. Services were private.