Ruth Fancher

Pontotoc - Ruth Staten Fancher, 96, passed away on Wednesday, February 18, 2015. Born at home in Black Zion on December 11, 1918, to John Samuel and Effie Elizabeth Ray Staten, Ruth died at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland. She married Wayne “Dick” Fancher of Golden in 1938. They lived in Pontotoc, in San Antonio, where Ruth remained while Dick was in the Pacific during the war, and settled in Cleveland, where they reared their children. Upon Dick’s retirement, they moved back to Pontotoc, where they made their home until Dick’s death in 2001 at 87. Ruth then moved into Traceway Manor in Tupelo, where she lived until moving to the Jackson area in 2013. Ruth always enjoyed cooking and caring for her family, and regularly played bridge well into her 90’s.

She was predeceased by her parents, by her husband Dick, and by her sister, Merrill Staten Hall. She is survived by her son, B. W. Fancher (Deidre), of Las Cruces, N.M., her daughter, Jane Fancher Shelton (Thomas), of Jackson, her sister, Dot Staten Sappington, of Pontotoc, her grandchildren, Ryan Gary Fancher (Wendy), of Las Cruces, Margaret Love Fancher Cortiz (Nick), of Dayton, Ohio, , Alexander Staten Fancher, of Denver, Co., Jacob Wayne Fancher, also of Denver, Jane Alexander Shelton Wilson (Jake), of Jackson, and Thomas Fancher Shelton, also of Jackson. She is also survived by 4 great-grandchildren; Ryan’s daughters Chelsea and Caitlin, and Margaret Love’s daughter Shelbi and son Daniel, and by numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be at the First Methodist Church in Pontotoc at 11 am on Friday, February 20, 2015. Visitation will be prior to the service at 10 am at the church. Burial will be in Zion Cemetery, next to Dick. Browning Funeral Home in Pontotoc is in charge of arrangements.