Georgiana Genevieve Ball

Georgiana Ball

1930 ~ 2023

With heartfelt sadness, we share Georgiana Genevieve Ball's (Peever) passing at 92, on July 17, 2023, in Fort St. John at the Peace Villa Care Home. She was the second of four children born to George Beresford Ball from wife’s Annie Agnus Smith, and Minnie Borch.

Georgiana was born in Vancouver on October 4, 1930. She grew up on the Diamond B guiding, outfitting dude ranch in Telegraph Creek, British Columbia. Her job was to take guests out on trail rides, where she took them on tours of the local area. 

As an adult, she became a teacher. She taught in Montney, Dawson Creek, Rose Prairie, Trutch, Fort Nelson, Atlin, Telegraph Creek, Ocean Falls, and Victoria. She was an adventurer and world traveller. She never learned how to swim or had a driver's license. Yet, she loved horses and rode them better than many men. She loved skydiving.

She earned her master’s degree in history in 1981. She wrote books and articles for many well-known publications. She edited for other authors. Suppose you googled her name. You will find her photographs and audio collections donated to historical societies. 

During this time, she worked as a historian in Victoria, BC, taking many contracts. Her business ran under the name Georgiana Ball Research.  She collected historical documents and information on the Talhtan nations of northwestern British Columbia. She held the Talhtan nation close to her heart. Adopted by the Talhtans and given the name "Tahlthtoma," she continued working on her vocation until moving to Fort. St. John in 2012.

Having her close to her family for 11 years has been an immense privilege.

Georgiana is survived by her daughter, Juanita Esau (Brent), and her grandchildren, Leneah Stemmann (Jeff), Brendan Esau (Anita), Cara Colley (Patrick), Chere Hemsworth (Rob), Mariah Esau (Mark), Carrissa Colley and her great-grandchildren, Hunter, Brynn, Hayden, Larrah, Kyptin, Beckham, Bodhi, Baisley, Hartley. Numerous nephews and nieces. She is predeceased by her siblings Alfred, Barbara and Bobby, her daughter Jeanine, grandchildren Roth and Cole and great-granddaughter Lauren.

A celebration of life will be held in Telegraph Creek next summer. Instead of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of British Columbia—Click Here to donate in honour of Georgiana.

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