Ruth E. Ferris

Ruth Elaine Ferris, 91, died Thursday, March 24, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Home in Mt. Carroll. She was born March 28, 1924 on the family farm in Fairhaven, IL, the daughter of John A. and Edith May (Greenawalt) Larson. Ruth was the youngest of nine children. She attended country schools in the Fairhaven/Chadwick area, and graduated from Chadwick High School, class of 1942. She married Ralph H. Ferris on August 18, 1943 in Galesburg, IL, and became the mother to Ralph (Harold), Cheryl, John, James and Dennis. She was a homemaker and retired from Micro Switch in Freeport, IL.
Ruth was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. She enjoyed reminiscing about her life growing up on the family farm, gardening, cooking and baking, bird watching, taking rides to look for deer, playing cards with family and friends, reading and working on word puzzles. Ruth had fond memories of several trips she and Ralph took “out west” in their mini-van. She especially loved to watch her grandchildren participate in athletic and other school events. She was a member of First Lutheran Church of Chadwick.
She is survived by her children, Ralph H. Ferris, Jr. of Chadwick; Cheryl (Keith) Padgett of Shawnee, KS; John (Kimberly) Ferris of Lanark; James Ferris of Payson, AZ; and Dennis Ferris of Chadwick. She is survived by grandchildren Michael (Bridget) Reibel; Marc (Tracy) Ferris; DeAnne (Randy) Otto; Chad (Christina) Ferris; Heather Ferris; Glenn (Holly) Padgett; Bryan (Missy) Ferris; April (Steve Stachnik) Flury; Justin (Kristen) Ferris and Kiel Ferris. She is also survived by twelve great-grandchildren, one great-great grandson, two step-grandchildren, eight step-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
She is predeceased by her husband, her parents, and her siblings Lavonne, Charles, John D., Verna, Irvin, Omer, Howard and Hazel.
Services will be held Friday, April 1, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. at First Lutheran Church, 19 W. 3rd St., Chadwick with Reverend Christine Schoon officiating. Burial will be in the Chadwick Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday, March 31 from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at First Lutheran Church and for one hour preceding the services at First Lutheran Church. Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church, Chadwick or Good Samaritan Home, Mt. Carroll.