Ruthie, born in the western Missouri town of Butler on a warm summer day in August in 1945, was the only daughter of Dr. Daniel Ross Haney and Neva Ruth Perrill Haney. Ruthie, along with her older brother Dan and her younger brother Larry, attended Butler High School where Ruthie played clarinet in the band, sang alto in choir and served in the Student Council. Ruthie was salutatorian of the Class of 1963.
After growing up attending Ohio Street United Methodist Church in Butler, Ruthie continued her formal education at Central Methodist College in Fayette, Missouri. She studied Elementary Education and Religion and passed the time socially as a member of Zeta Psi Lambda sorority and the CMC Marching Band. She started many long-lasting friendships during her time in Fayette.
After college Ruthie taught at Laurel Hills Elementary and later Fleetridge Elementary in the Raytown School District, honing her craft developing young minds. On a fateful day in January 1969 while attending an event at Blue Ridge Boulevard United Methodist Church, Marge Lytle introduced Ruthie to a tall, handsome engineer named Steve Schwieterman. Steve and Ruthie hit it off immediately. They were engaged by May and married by September.
Ruthie and Steve became quite a team over the next nearly 50 years, eventually settling on the south side of Raytown. They welcomed Stephanie Judith in February 1971 and rounded out the family with the arrival of the twins Tyler David and Heidi Joy in November 1974. Ruthie spent much of the 1970s and 1980s hauling kids around Raytown in her green Ford Econoline van. From soccer practice to dance lessons to church choir practice, Ruthie took her children and lots of other kids in the neighborhood from event to event, always determined to be no more than 15 minutes late.
Over almost four decades, Ruthie continued teaching in various roles throughout Raytown. She spent the last fifteen years of her career teaching Chapter One preschool at Raytown Education Center. She was doing what mattered to her most – she was helping those in need and slowly building relationships by showing she cared. Ruthie retired in 2006, opting to focus on being a grandparent.
Ruthie had a special love for her five grandchildren. Shelby was born in 2003; Lizzie and Noah were born in 2005; and Eli and Bea were born in 2008. From the day they were born, Ruthie, known as Grammy, was committed to teaching them about the importance of having a good book to read or an outlet for artistic expression. At every birthday, they knew they would receive at least two cards from Grammy, one funny and one sentimental. They also knew any gift from Grammy was directed to making them a better person or helping someone in need.
During her retirement years, Ruthie was tireless in her volunteer work. She was a longtime volunteer at Shepherd’s Center of Raytown, as a weekly volunteer and later as Board President. She was also active in PEO, Independence Young Matrons, and Delta Kappa Gamma. She joined friends regularly in a local book club, and she had a longstanding bridge foursome with three dear friends.
Ruthie was an active member at Blue Ridge United Methodist for almost 50 years. She was a founding member of the Covenant Class, and she also spent her time teaching the Samaritan Sunday School Class, as well as many other Sunday School classes, singing in the choir and serving with United Methodist Women.
Ruthie is survived by her husband Steve, her children, Steph, Ty, his wife Jessie, and Heidi and her husband Austin, and her grandchildren, Shelby, Lizzie, Noah, Eli, and Bea, as well as her brother Larry Haney and his family. The family welcomes donations to memorials in lieu of flowers. Please direct any gifts in memory of Ruthie to Shepherd’s Center of Raytown or to Blue Ridge Boulevard United Methodist Church.
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