Shawna Jo Hughes Balls, 58, of Pocatello, passed away peacefully Sunday, March 14, 2010, at Portneuf Medical Center surrounded by family and friends.

Shawna was born June 7, 1951, in St. Anthony, Idaho, to Neal Hughes and Joan Mackert. Shawna attended school in St. Anthony and graduated from South Fremont High School in 1969. She attended college in Pocatello, graduating from Idaho State University in 1974 with a nursing degree.

On Nov. 22, 1974, Shawna married David Raymond Balls in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple and they made their home in Pocatello. Shawna worked at Pocatello High School in the cafeteria. She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in various callings, including as Relief Society president and stake Primary presidency, and in the Cub Scouts and numerous music callings.

Shawna always had a great love for riding horses and a love of all animals. She was raised on a farm in Wilford and continued to return to her Wilford roots often. Shawna's hobbies included reading, sewing, cooking, tole painting, scrapbooking, gardening, cross-stitching, playing the piano and mostly shopping. She loved to travel. A few of her favorite trips included Europe, Washington, historical sites back East and her dad's winter home in Yuma, Ariz.

Shawna had a very outgoing and vibrant personality; she was easily able to make friends from all aspects of her life. Her greatest love in life was her family.

She is survived by her husband, David; children, Michael of Moscow, Julia of Gilbert, Ariz., and Natalie (Jay) Jex of Rexburg; father, Neal (Faun) Hughes of St. Anthony; mother, Joan Mackert of Everett, Wash.; siblings, Christy (Mike) Davis and Randy (Dana) Hughes, both of St. Anthony; siblings from Faun and Neal Hughes, Jana (Jordan) Dahl of Mapleton, Utah, Jill (Lani) Hatch of Orem, Utah, Jodee (Al) Mickelsen of Pleasant Grove, Utah, Jeri (Dave) Rigby of Layton, Utah, Kim (Arlene) Sutterfield of Elk Grove, Calif., and Kevin (Michelle) Sutterfield of Springville, Utah; and two grandchildren, Oliver and Eliza of Homedale.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 20, at the Lakeview LDS Alameda 5th Ward, 1440 Lakeview Drive in Pocatello. The family will meet with friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Wilkes Funeral Home, 211 W. Chubbuck Road in Pocatello, and from 9:45 a.m. until the time of the services.

Burial will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Wilford Cemetery in St. Anthony. Anyone is invited to come. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.wilksfuneralhome.com.

Published in Post Register on March 19, 2010