Ruth Ann Scott Ference joined her Lord November 14, 2018. She was born November 26, 1943 to Leslie Earl Scott, Jr. and Beatrice Gertude Baggett in Vernon, Texas and was predeceased by her parents and sister Nancy Scott Dockery. Ruth Ann leaves her husband, Robert, daughter Kristen Ference Degan (Shannon), grandchildren Colby and Kira, all of Okemos; her brother-in-law Burt Dockery, nephews Breck and Dan Dockery and niece Jan Dockery King in the Vernon area; cousins Valerie Payne, Kay Gafford and Tom Baggett in Oklahoma; also a number of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of her relatives.
Ruth Ann received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wayland Baptist College, Plainview, TX, majoring in government and politics and a Master of Arts degree in government from the University of Maryland. A few years later she completed a Master’s degree in business at Eastern Michigan University. Professionally, as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Ruth Ann assisted with creation of strategic plans then drafted and submitted grant proposals to funding agencies, both public and private. Much of her professional career was with non-profit organizations, including YWCA and YMCA offices, hospitals and health care facilities.
She and Robert met while both were graduate students at the University of Maryland. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on July 26, 2018.
A dedicated Christian from youth, she was always involved with church groups wherever she and her family were living and was especially active in what was then Packard Road Baptist Church in Ann Arbor. Once in the Lansing area, Ruth Ann and Robert became members of The Peoples Church of East Lansing where she held leadership roles with Women of Peoples Church and served with other missions, ministries and activities.
Ruth Ann was an avid genealogist. The MSU Community Club Family Links group was her principal local organization and she was an active user of numerous online resources. She also enjoyed sewing, reading and old movies, but her real joy was time with her grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations might be made to Friends of the Okemos Library, 4321 Okemos Road, Okemos, MI 48864 or The Peoples Church of East Lansing, 200 West Grand River Ave., East Lansing, MI 48823 (http://www.thepeopleschurch.com/)
