Ruth Earley

Ruth V. Earley, 90, of Annawan, died Sunday, January 2, 2011, at Good Samaritan Village, Geneseo. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 7th, at Fairview United Methodist Church, rural Annawan. Rev. Dan Wright will officiate. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, at the Annawan Chapel of Stackhouse-Moore Funeral Services. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Red Bird Mission Project.

The former Ruth V. Maarman was born November 9, 1920, in Atkinson Township, the daughter of Paul L. and Edna R. (Hunt) Maarman. She graduated from Acme Grade School (Cornwall Township) and Annawan High School. She also attended Brown Business College in Kewanee, IL. Ruth married W. Howard Earley on April 10, 1942, at the Fairview United Brethern Church, and they farmed in the Annawan area until his death on August 12, 2004.

She was a member of Henry County Rural Youth, Country Couples, Prime Timers, Henry County Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, serving as chairwoman for two years. She was a lifetime member of the church and the United Brethern Women’s Society (Fairview United Methodist Women). Her other memberships included the Cornwall 4-H Club, and leader of the Annawan Hi-Steppers 4-H Club for many years, the Annawan-Alba Women’s Club, and the Henry County Republican Women. Ruth enjoyed baking, gardening, sewing, bicycling and reading.

She is survived by her four children, Christine (Richard) Lamoreaux, Tucson, AZ, Sharon (Milton) Pope, Glendale, CA, David (Jan) Earley, Annawan, Walter (Rebecca) Earley, Arlington, VA, seven grandchildren, six great grandchildren, two sisters, Irene Sherman, Peoria, IL, and Lois Earley, Kewanee. Her parents, husband, one grandson, and her brother, Ralph Maarman, preceded her in death.