Ruth Steward

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Ruth C. Steward, 92, of Sikeston died Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2004, at Sikeston Convalescent Center.

She was born Dec. 22, 1911, in Maury City, Tenn., daughter of Ed and Mae Agee Byassee. She and Fred H. Steward Sr. were married Aug. 18, 1935. He died March 31, 1978.

Steward served as the first Sikeston Welcome Wagon representative from 1951 to 1958. She was a member of First Baptist Church and its Women's Missionary Union and T.E.L. Sunday School Class; member and past president of Garden Club of Sikeston and Sikeston Women's Club.

Survivors include two sons, Fred Steward Jr. and Larry Steward of Sikeston; a daughter, Dorothy Anne Richardson of Colorado Springs, Colo.; four sisters, Neva Swaim of Sacramento, Calif., Dell Brown of Oakland, Calif., Billie Sawyer of Dallas, Texas, and Myra DeGinter of Little Rock, Ark.; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by eight brothers and three sisters.

Friends may call at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel Friday from 9:30 a.m. to service time.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the chapel, with the Rev. Rick Ramsey officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery.