Ruth Elaine Havens

On Thursday, September 5, 2013 at Homestead of Sherman, Ruth Elaine Havens, 89, passed away quietly and peacefully in her sleep, finally being released from the horrible grip of Alzheimer's after 11 years.

The family will be at Bratcher Funeral Home for visitation on Sunday, September 15, 2013 from 2:00 – 4:00 P.M.

Funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church in Denison on Monday, September 16, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. with Rev. Mark Mitchell.

Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Denison. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

Ruth was born on Sunday, April 27, 1924 in Doland, South Dakota, the daughter of Calvin Traver and Edna Blodgett Traver. She was first and foremost a Christian, member of the First Baptist Church of Denison and a dedicated mother who tirelessly raised seven children teaching them Jesus, to cook, sew, to garden, to love nature, a kind woman who controlled her words and actions, she was an avid quilter, a writer who in later life won a silver award for her writing of short stories, she had a love of reading, collecting purple glass and was a cheerful giver. She continued her love with her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed!

She is survived by sons Rodney Havens of Denison, Steve Havens & wife Debbie of Cedar Park; Joe Havens & wife Elvie of Warner Robins, Georgia; daughters Elaine Chapman & husband Keith of Norfolk, Nebraska, Susan Garrett & husband Jeff of Newalla, Oklahoma, Mary Jones & husband Ken of Pottsboro, Lisa Girdlestone of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA; brother John Traver of Huntsville, Arkansas; sister Ella Watson of Huntsville, Arkansas; grandchildren Brett & wife Shirley Chapman, James Chapman, Tara Teague & husband David, Erik & wife Lisa Havens, John Sudduth, Rachel Sudduth, Hogan & wife Shannon Jones, Ben & wife Lindsay Jones, Hayley & husband Adam Stracener, Jessica & husband Chance Magouirk, Lori & husband Chris Smith, Josephine Havens, Erica Havens, Cara Williams and Kaitlyn O'Conner, great-grandchildren, Jade Chapman, Sean Chapman, Samuel Teague, David Teague, Makayla Havens, Luke Havens, Andy Magouirk, Aiden Magouirk, Kameen Smith, Ava Smith, Elijah Smith, Mara Sudduth, Luke Sudduth, Cailey Jones, Hollis Jones, Declan Stracener, Rowan Jones, Ava Jones, Olivia Jones, Javon Havens, Jeremiah Havens, Julian Biesel, Jasy Biesel

She is preceded in death by her parents; brother Victor Traver; sisters Violet Sisk, Juna Grimes, Mildred Cordell and Hazel Holland and her former husband Weldon J Havens.

The family would like to send a special thanks to Homestead of Sherman and Heart to Heart Hospice for their wonderful care of our mother.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.bratcherfuneralhome.com