Ernestine Frances (Ball) Morrison, 88, passed away on July 3, 2025. Ernestine was born in Arkansas City, KS on September 26, 1936, the only child of the late Anna (Gannon) Ball and Wilson Blair Ball. She graduated from Salina High School in 1954 and married Harold Morrison in 1956. They raised their two daughters, Kimberly and Teri Ann on the family farm north of Salina.
Through out her childhood and high school, she developed her talent as a dancer with lessons and theatre involvement. In 1960, she was cast in the Solid Gold Cadillac for the fledgling Salina Community Theatre. She continued to contribute her time and talents as an actress, chorographer, staging consultant and director for SCT over the next five decades. In addition to her theatre work, the family started showing Quarter horses in 1970. Harold and Ernestine then devoted their time to traveling throughout the country as Kim & Teri pursued state and national titles. Ernestine became executive secretary of the Kansas Quarter Horse Association in 1997 and served as the editor and publisher of the KQHA monthly magazine until 2003. She was inducted into the KQHA Hall of Fame in 2007.
She is preceded in death by husband Harold in 2022. She is survived by her daughters; Kimberly (Fred) Norwood, New Cambria; Teri Ann (Michael) Johnson, Temple, TX; grandson, Brandon (Mandy) Norwood, Salina.
Visitation will be at 6 pm, Wednesday, July 9 at Ryan Mortuary, with a celebration of life on Thursday, July 10 at 1 pm also at Ryan Mortuary. Interment will be at Roselawn Cemetery. A casual gathering for memories and stories will follow at Blue Skye Brewery in downtown Salina.
Memorials may be made to the Salina Community Theatre.