Doris Jean Ballantyne

Doris Jean Ballantyne, known by family and friends as Jean, passed away peacefully on August 15, 2026-on her 94th birthday-at TLC Assisted Living in Visalia, CA. Jean was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, mother, grandmother, and friend. Jean was born August 15, 1932, at Burndale Hospital in Sonoma, California. She was the daughter of Alfred Jewett Burkdoll and Maxine Hunter. Her parents married in Reno, Nevada, on May 15, 1931 (Alfred was 22 and Maxine was 18). After a few years, they chose to terminate the marriage. Jean found lasting stability when her father married Teresa Scalione on February 22, 1939. From then on, she enjoyed a happy, secure childhood with Alfred and Teresa. Jean spent her early years in Sonoma, Dunsmuir, and Sunnyvale, CA before the family moved to a ranch in the Farmersville-Deep Creek area in 1942. There, she attended Deep Creek School, graduated from eighth grade in 1946, and helped on the family farm, which raised turkeys, cotton, alfalfa, and watermelon. In 1946, the family moved to Healdsburg, where Jean attended Healdsburg High School and graduated in June 1950. Often known as "the Belle of the Ball," she enjoyed a lively teenage life filled with friends, sodas at Tomasso's, and a memorable sixteenth birthday party at Mirabel Park, where she spent the night on the dance floor that extended over the Russian River. Mirabel Park was known for hosting talented musicians such as Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman, and Duke Ellington, who just happened to be performing that night. Determined to finish high school in Healdsburg when her parents returned to farming in Visalia, Jean lived as an au pair with the Sanderson family. After graduation, she worked in an apple packing house, briefly attended College of the Sequoias, and then moved to San Francisco to study fashion design. She first lived at the Evangeline Residence for working women, run by the Salvation Army, and later in various apartments in the Marina District. She worked at Crocker-Anglo Bank and made lifelong friendships during those years. In the summer of 1958, Jean married Stanley Ballantyne, who was a Captain in the Army. Together they began a life of travel and adventure that took them to Panama, Colombia, and Iran. In Colombia, they acquired their trilingual dachshund, Schnappsy. After Stanley retired from the military, they returned to Visalia in 1968 to raise their family. Jean was the proud mother of her sons, Scott and John, and her stepdaughter, JoAnn. Jean will be remembered for her resilience, independence, and her love of West Highland Terriers, hummingbirds, shoes, ice cream, and cooking. Some of her most requested dishes included potato salad, crab casserole, and pies, and birthdays were simply not complete without a Sherry cake. Most of all, she will be remembered for her love of family, especially her granddaughters who brought her tremendous joy. Jean is survived by her son, John Ballantyne (Stacy); stepdaughter, JoAnn Coleman (Dennis); granddaughters, Shannon Moore (Chris), Ashley Ballantyne, and Hayley Ballantyne; sister, Marylin Silveira (William); nephew, Matthew Silveira (Leslie); and niece, Amy Harris (Ron). She was preceded in death by her son, Deputy Scott Ballantyne (E.O.W. 02/10/2016), and her grandson Colton Moore. A special thank you to the staff at TLC Assisted Living for the special care they provided for Jean over the past 4 years. Services will be on September 18, 2026, at 9:30 AM at Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel, 127 E. Caldwell Ave, Visalia, CA. Inurnment will immediately follow at Visalia Cemetery beside her son, Scott. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Doris Jean Ballantyne

August 15, 1932 - August 15, 2026