Jay Howland Ballard of Williston, Vt., passed away Friday, June 3, 2005, at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington after a long illness. He was 47. He was born in Wilmington, Del., on Feb. 1, 1958, the son of Jane (Miller) Ballard and George A. Ballard, former assistant headmaster at St. Johnsbury Academy. He was a 1976 graduate of St. Johnsbury Academy where he co-captained both the football and baseball teams. Jay was a lifelong Oriole and Colts fan having grown up in Delaware. He attended Miami Dade University in 1977 and graduated in business from Lyndon State in 1979. He was a 15-year employee with Armstrong Construction Corp. in Underhill. Jay loved the beauty of Vermont (camping, biking, fishing), and time spent with family and close friends. People who came to know Jay were drawn by his warmth and sincerity. His closest friends were Craig Armstrong, Stuart Hall and Kenny Gaudette. He is survived by 8-year-old daughter, Jessica Helen Jane Ballard, stepdaughter, Sarah Snow Ballard, and former wife and best friend Elizabeth "Sib" (Hall) Ballard, all of Williston; stepmother, Lillian Dauphin Ballard of St. Johnsbury; brothers Peter Ballard of St. Johnsbury, Allen and his wife Patty of Los Angeles, Calif.; two aunts, Diane Grieco of Andover, Mass., and Mildred Curry and her husband David of Hingham, Mass.; and several cousins. Graveside services will be held this Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Ballard family lot in the East Craftsbury Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held in St. Johnsbury Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the Sayles Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be directed to Maple Leaf Farm, 10 Maple Leaf Farm Rd., Underhill VT 05489.