Ruth Stafford

Ruth Berneice Stafford, 91, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Nov. 6, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

She was born Aug. 19, 1913, at Malden, Mo., daughter of Charles and Francis Chaney Johnson. She and Thomas G. "Mike" Stafford were married March 9, 1935, at Vanduser, Mo.

Stafford was a member of the West Side Church of God and was an active Sunday school teacher for over 50 years. She was a charter member and past president of WCG.

Survivors include her husband; three daughters, LaReta Macke of Nashville, Tenn., Glenice Cotner and Teresa Haubold, both of Cape Girardeau; two stepsisters, Beatrice Gorsline of Pontiac, Mich., Ruth Wallace of Cape Girardeau; seven grandchildren, Sue (David) Crader, of Scott City, Julie Macke-Heyes of Simpsonville, S.C., Sarah Williams of Antioch, Tenn., Mike Cotner of St. Louis, Mo., Jo Donna (Homer) Markhart of Caracas, Venezuela, Heather (Trae) Mitten and Kelly (Robert) Guard, all of Cape Girardeau; 12 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a brother and a stepbrother.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford & Sons Mount Auburn Chapel.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the chapel, with the Revs. Tom Stafford and Jeremy Clayton officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park at Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be made to the West Side Church of God Ladies Missionary.