Ruth Liley

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Ruth Alora Liley, 95, died Monday, Sept. 12, 2011, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Aug. 11, 1916, in Lilbourn, Mo., to P.J. and Ethel Campbell Stearns. She married Floyd Liley, who preceded her in death in 2005.

Liley was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church. She was an elementary teacher at schools in Lilbourn, Portageville, Mo., Kennett, Mo., and Advance, Mo., before retiring.

She was preceded in death by a son, Floyd "Butch" Liley; three brothers, P.J. Stearns Jr., Joseph Stearns and James Stearns; two sisters, Doris Brower and Betty Crouthers; and a nephew, B.J. "Bud" Crouthers.

Survivors include four nephews, Hollis "Bert" Brower and wife Cheryl of Springfield, Mo., James "Jim" Stearns of Vero Beach, Fla., John Crouthers of Sikeston and Mark Crouthers of Oklahoma City.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until time of service Thursday at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with the Revs. Karen Nothdurft and Jim Sanderson of Centenary Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Sikeston City Cemetery.

Online condolences may be sent at www.ponderfuneralhome.com.