Ruth Anne Pearson

Ruth Ann Pearson, 63, much loved mother and grandmother, died Nov. 26, 2004, in her sleep at her home while surrounded by her family. Visitation is from 5-8:00 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29, at Kirlin, Egan and Butler Funeral Home in Springfield. A funeral mass will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Springfield, with burial to follow at Calvary Cemetery in Springfield. Ruth was very much loved by her family and friends. She will be remembered as a strongwilled and sharp-witted woman who raised her children on her own. As a nurse for nearly 40 years, she brought care and joy, and nurturing and kindness to thousands of people in Decatur, Springfield and elsewhere. She also brought joy and love to her children through good times and bad. Ruth was born on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, 1940, in Springfield, IL to Albert R. Hershfeld and Helen L. (Guymon.) She grew up in Springfield and attended Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and Sacred Heart Academy. Often she would go to her family’s print shop in downtown Springfield to help her mother work. She was an accomplished pianist, having placed well in state competitions thanks in part to the training of her great aunt, Geraldine Maher. Ruth met Donald C. Pearson in high school, the boy from just down the street, and they married in 1961 at Blessed Sacrament. She also had attended St. John's School of Nursing and earned her diploma. She and her husband then followed a naval career around the United States for several years and started their family. Kristopher Alan Pearson, her oldest son, was born on a naval base in Louisiana. Roy Albert Pearson, her second son, was born on a naval base in Hawaii. Kathryn Angela Pearson, a daughter, was born in Connecticut. Ruth returned to Central Illinois in the mid-1960s and moved to Decatur. There she began raising her family by herself. Ruth worked the night-shift at Wabash Memorial Hospital before making the move to Decatur Memorial Hospital, where she worked for 15 years. She also served as a PRN at Manor Care Nursing Home in Decatur and had gone back to school to earn her bachelor's degree. In the early 1980s, Ruth was hired by the Illinois Department of Public Health as a nursing home inspector located out of the Peoria office. During this time, she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of St. Francis. Ruth then moved to Eureka, IL and lived there until her retirement from the state in 2002. Ruth loved reading, going to the movies, tending her flower gardens and taking care of her tropical fish. In retirement, she served as a Eureka library volunteer before relocating to Springfield to be close to her family and to raise her yellow lab 'Sunny.' Shortly after her move back, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and spent the past seven months with her family and loved ones. The family would like to thank all those who have loved and cared for Ruth during her life, including MaryJo Comerford and Maureen Kapp. Ruth is survived by her son, Kris, and his wife, Laura, of Decatur; Roy, and his wife, Teresa, of Springfield; and her daughter, Kathryn (Sellers,) and her husband, William, of Fairview, TN. She also is survived by grandchildren, Dana Sellers, Michael Pearson, Connor Pearson, Hannah Pearson, Madeline Pearson, and Jacob Pearson. She also is survived by step grandchildren, Angie, Cindy, Barbara, Daniel, Christian, Samuel and Matthew and several step great grandchildren. She also is survived by her aunt, Elizabeth (Hershfeld) Maher and several cousins. Ruth is preceded in death by her father and mother; her aunts and uncles, Roy B. and Geraldine (Hershfeld) Maher, Jack Maher, Clarence Hershfeld; second husband, Jim Riggs and step grandson, Jason Bossmann. Mom, we love you. You were a wonderful mother and grandmother. You are at peace, but you will be greatly missed.