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Ruth Mildred Shoemaker Wells died Saturday night April 25, 2009, in the Linwood Village Nursing Home ten days after her 97th birthday.
Ruth was born April 10, 1912, in Houston, MO, to Louis Benton and Stella Parthenia Walls Shoemaker.
The family of twelve brothers and sisters moved to Oklahoma in 1923 when she was eleven years old, settling in Hockerville where Louis worked at the Quapaw Mining Company's lead and zinc mine. They moved to the Cushing area four years later, in 1927, where her father took up farming and she attended Round Grove school.
She married Jack Wells in 1932 and they had three sons, Jerry Lee, Larry Jack, and Timothy Joe. Larry died in 1960 while serving with the U.S. Marines. Jack died in 1989. She married Dale Pack, a long-time friend, in 1991, when they were both 79 years young. Dale died in 1999.
Ruth was a homemaker who enjoyed gardening and flowers. She taught Sunday school classes for many years, from Beginners to the Adult Women's Class at Council Valley Baptist Church. She said it was really the other way around because she was the one being taught.
Ruth once listed her occupation as wife, mother, neighbor and friend.
Ruth survived a battle with breast cancer, having one breast removed at age 80, and participated for several years after that in Cushing's Relay for Life.
In addition to her two sons Jerry and wife Deborah of Broken Arrow, and Tim and wife Linda of Boerne, TX, Ruth is survived by three brothers, Everett Shoemaker and Junior Shoemaker of Cushing and Carl Shoemaker of Phoenix, former daughter-in-law Nancy Wells of Cushing, as well as five grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson, as well as numerous other relatives, friends and church family.
Funeral services will be held Monday, May 4, 2009, at 10:00 a.m., at Council Valley Baptist Church with Rev. Larry Lehr officiating.
Pallbearers will be Chad, Patrick, and Brady Wells, Hurst Spencer, Junior Shenold and Rick Holmes. Honorary pallbearer will be Brent Wells.
Interment will follow at the Fairlawn Cemetery.
The family will greet friends on Sunday evening, May 3rd, from 5-7 in the Floyd Family Center, east of the funeral home.