Nancy Jane Bray Baller, 84, died peacefully on July 12, 2026, surrounded by the love of her husband, Charles, and their children at her home in Castle Pines, CO.
A celebration of life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 24, at Horan and McConaty, 5303 E. County Line Road, in Centennial, CO. A reception will immediately follow the service. At 1:30 p.m., she will be laid to rest at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 4400 E. Kenyon Avenue, in Denver, CO. Guests are invited to wear blue, Mrs. Bray Baller’s favorite color, in celebration of her life.
During her distinguished teaching career in Colorado and Iowa, Mrs. Bray Baller touched and enriched the lives of thousands of elementary schoolchildren. A gifted, dedicated and deeply loved educator, she spent 32 years teaching in Parker and Aurora, CO, and Ankeny, IA. She believed every child was unique and deserving of encouragement, kindness and the opportunity to succeed. Her classroom was a place where students felt seen, valued and inspired, and many carried the lessons she taught long after they left her classroom.
Mrs. Bray Baller was born on February 9, 1942, in Litchfield, to Jack and Dorothy Bray. As the eldest of their children, she grew up in Litchfield and graduated from Litchfield High School before attending Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education.
Even as a young woman, she embraced every opportunity to learn, lead and serve. She was active in student leadership, cheerleading, chorus and numerous school organizations. Blessed with a beautiful singing voice, she earned recognition as a member of the Illinois All-State Chorus and received the prestigious Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Citizenship Award, honoring her leadership, dependability and character. Her love of music continued at Southern Illinois University, where she was a member of the Angel Flight Chorus, a campus service organization affiliated with the Air Force ROTC.
On March 25, 1967, Mrs. Bray Baller married the love of her life, Charles Baller, at Union Avenue Christian Church in Litchfield. Together they shared 59 wonderful years of marriage built on faith, devotion, laughter and an unwavering commitment to one another.
Faith was the foundation of her life. She lived her beliefs through compassion, generosity and genuine care for others. She was a longtime member of Southeast Christian Church in Parker and most recently attended Journey Church in Castle Pines.
While Mrs. Bray Baller loved teaching, nothing brought her greater joy than her family. She was immensely proud of her three children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She delighted in celebrating every milestone, cheering from the sidelines, and creating traditions that brought everyone together. One of her greatest blessings was becoming a great-grandmother, welcoming a great-granddaughter and a great-grandson just two months apart.
She had a remarkable gift for making people feel welcomed and loved. Whether gathered around the table playing board games, enjoying countless rounds of Mexican Train, sharing stories or expressing her creativity through art, she treasured time spent with those she loved. Her gentle spirit, patient heart, kind smile and quiet strength left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know her.
Throughout her life, Mrs. Bray Baller’s greatest calling was investing in children. She spent more than three decades nurturing young minds in the classroom and continued that same love and encouragement as a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She celebrated every accomplishment, offered wisdom with patience and grace and made each member of her family feel deeply loved. Her legacy lives on not only through the lessons she taught, but through the kindness, faith and compassion she instilled in generations of students and in the family she cherished above all else.
Mrs. Bray Baller is survived by her beloved husband, Charles Baller; her daughters, Julie Conaway of Castle Pines, CO and Jennifer (Jeff) Wells of Parker, CO; her son, Chris Baller of Parker, CO; eight grandchildren, Rylee Friedrichs of Hulbert, OK, Megan Conaway of Castle Pines, CO, Ashley Baller of Thornton, CO, Tyler Baller of Castle Rock, CO, Jordan Baller of Castle Rock, CO, Kyla Wells, Lucas Wells, and Blake Wells, all of Parker, CO; and great-grandchildren, Olive Baller and Richard Friedrichs Jr.
She is also survived by her sister, Linda Musgrave of Martinsburg, WV; her brother, Jim (Carol Knowles) Bray of Leland Grove; along with several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Dorothy Bray.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a charity that held a special place in Mrs. Bray Baller’s heart.
