Ethel Gurine (Ballman) Lewis, 100, of Milan passed away Monday, March 25, 2024, at Ripley Crossing. Gurine was born on November 19, 1923, in Larabee, Iowa; daughter of Ernest Edward Ballman and Della Hunter (Stevens) Ballman. Gurine worked at Whitlatch Clinic as a bookkeeper and later as a postal clerk for the U.S. Postal Service for 30 years. She was a former member of the Rebecca Lodge. She has been a member of the Milan First Baptist Church since 1945 and was a member of their women’s missionary group. She was the pianist and organist at Milan First Baptist Church for 79 years and played the organ at Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home for many years. In Gurine’s later years it was very meaningful to her to play for funeral services. She said that if she could help grieving families through the loss of their loved one by playing their favorite hymns, that it was a blessing for her. Gurine enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, reading, playing cards, especially Phase 10, traveling, and going out to eat. Gurine most of all cherished spending time with her loving family.
Gurine will be missed by her daughters Pauletta (Clayton) Brewer of Indianapolis and Lynne (Walter) Davis of Milan; stepson Jerry (Quenlin) Lewis of Cincinnati; stepdaughter Marilyn Housemeyer of South Bend; and 4 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren.
Gurine was preceded in death by her parents Edward and Della Ballman; spouses Paul Kissel, Omer Cole, and Horace Lewis; infant brother Roger Edward Ballman; stepson Paul Kissel Jr.; and great-grandson Luke Lewis.
Family and friends may gather to share and remember Gurine from 10:30 AM-12:00 PM, Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at Milan First Baptist Church; 112 S. Main St., Milan, IN 47031. A service to celebrate her life will immediately follow at 12:00 PM, with Pastor Harris Long officiating. Burial will take place at Cravens Cemetery. Memorials may be given in honor of Gurine to Milan First Baptist Church Music Fund, Margaret Mary Health Hospice, or Ripley Crossing.
Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements: PO Box 243, Milan, IN 47031; (812) 654-2141. Please visit our website at www.lawscarrmoore.com to share your condolences and memories of Gurine.