Donald Ballew

Memorial services for Donald "Donny" L. Ballew, 75, of Cleburne, Texas will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 30, 2025, in the sanctuary of Henderson Street Baptist Church with The Reverend Neale Oliver officiating.  A reception will follow in the Family Life Center.

Donald "Donny" L. Ballew, the eldest of four, was born to Howard "Bud" L. and Margie (Stepp) Ballew in Cleburne, Texas on May 27, 1950. Donny passed away peacefully surrounded by family on August 21, 2025 in Fort Worth, after a long battle with cancer.

Donny attended Cleburne ISD, graduating from Cleburne High School, class of 1968. After graduation Donny went to work at Johnson County Hospital as an orderly. He went on to attend Hill Jr. College and Texas University of Arlington for education with a minor in History. But in the end he went back to healthcare, working at Golden Age Manor and Heritage Trails Nursing Home until retirement in May of 2021. In August of 2021 he had a stroke and lived with his sister Debbie and her family until he went home to be with our Heavenly Father.

Donny started playing baseball at a young age with a lot of encouragement from his grandfather, Jack Stepp, who was a co-founder of Little League Baseball in Cleburne. With his love of baseball, the Texas Rangers became his #1 team, along with being a very huge fan of the Texas Longhorns. He said "If it's not burnt orange don't wear it." And oddly enough one of his favorite players as he liked to call him was "Uncle" Tom Brady.

Donny is survived by his sister, Debbie and Scott Cannon of Cleburne; her children, John and Jenny Brockway, Cliff and Megan Brockway, Scott and Andrea Dean, Jack Cannon, and Rebecca Cannon; brothers, Danny and Joyce Ballew and their children, Dusty and Laura Ballew, Stephany Ballew Nelson, and David and Karen Ballew and their family, Jeremy and Anna-Belle Ballew; five great nephews; four great nieces; four great-great nephews with one on the way; one great-great niece; and many cousins; his stepchildren, Judy and Andy Aguilar, John and Leslie Castanuela, Lupita, Lupe, Gloria, Maria, Doris, Lamo, Rachel, Pete, and Joann Castanuela; many grandchildren, including Robert, Kori and Natalie, whom he raised with Irene and many great grandchildren.

 Donny is preceded in death by his parents; baby daughter Elizabeth Ballew; wife Irene Castanuela; stepsons Richard, Vincent, and Carlos Castanuela; maternal grandparents Jack and Eunice (Reeves) Stepp; paternal grandparents Henry and Mamie (Smith) Ballew; and brother-in-law Ralph Brockway.

Donny will live on in our hearts and memories forever. Hookem Horns!