Ruth Ann Smith

Ruth Ann Smith was born July 26, 1937 on a farm in Garfield Township, Clay County, KS; the daughter of Alfred H. and Ida M. (Hedlind) Woellhof. She attended Idlywild country school until 8th grade when she went to McKinley School in Clay Center. As a child she loved her many farm pets and would rather have been running around outside, climbing trees and playing with her animals than inside doing chores with her mother. Her little rat terrier, Fritzi, was known to sport fancy dresses and bonnets as she couldn’t help but dress him up. Ruth Ann graduated from Clay Center Community High School in 1955. She was involved in vocal music, orchestra, band and Stardusters. She played the piano, saxophone and bassoon, sang solo and in a quartet, even winning first in state. She made many friends in high school who remain dear friends today. Ruth Ann graduated from Kansas State University in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education and a Minor in Music. She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta Sorority and was an alumni member for over 50 years. She sang in the Select Acappella Choir and worked in the K-State library. She loved college life and witnessed the days of live chickens being smuggled into basketball games versus arch enemy KU! She delighted in writing letters to her parents telling of her college tales and new friends. Ruth Ann married Ron Smith on July 12, 1959 at the United Methodist Church in Clay Center. They had a loving marriage with many wonderful experiences and memories. They enjoyed many family vacations, listening to jazz music and danced a mean jitterbug! Ruth Ann and Ron were blessed to celebrate more than 56 years together. They are the parents of two children, Julie Christina and Mark C. Smith. Ruth Ann taught third grade at Lincoln School and continued working as a substitute teacher for many years in USD #379. She enjoyed the younger children and was known to entertain them with singing and her many puppets. One of her joys was running into one of her old students somewhere unexpected and hearing their memories. Ruth Ann was an active member of her community and was involved in many organizations including the Clay Center Library Board, Clay Center Presbyterian Manor Board, Ladies Golf Association, Clay County Arts Council, United Methodist Church Choir, and past President of Chapter AS PEO. She made many dear friends along the way. Some of Ruth Ann’s most memorable experiences include attending live jazz concerts of many jazz greats and traveling with an educational group from K-State. She traveled to Europe seven times and visited England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Germany, Luxemburg, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia. She enjoyed beautiful scenery, especially mountains, and would always appreciate beauty in nature that others often overlooked. Ruth Ann was a very compassionate person who loved children, animals and the elderly. She was known to pay visits and bring fresh cut flowers from her yard to friends in the hospital or nursing home. She was a devoted daughter and was there for her mother daily as she got older. She enjoyed many trips to the Clay Center Zoo with her children, granddaughter Christina and great-granddaughter Ava. Ruth Ann always wanted to own her own horse and looked forward to watching the Kentucky Derby, cheering for her pick and appreciating the beauty of the horses. She looked forward to taking her beloved Weimaraner dog, Heidi, to a meadow where they both could roam freely. She enjoyed attending auctions on a search for rare finds or a great bargain and had many interesting collections with hopes of opening her own antique store one day. Ruth Ann’s faith in God was very near and dear to her and throughout her fight with cancer, she relied on it greatly as a source of strength and hope. She was brave and determined in her battle and won over the hearts of many doctors and nurses along the way. She is remembered for singing “This Little Light of Mine” with her nurses when they clipped the oxygen monitor on her finger. She had the perfect song for every situation and wrote many poems, some touching and others downright silly. She had a great smile, contagious laugh and could strike up a conversation with anyone. Ruth Ann will be greatly missed my her many loved ones and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, A.W. “Bill” Woellhof and Robert J. Woellhof. Survivors include her husband Ron, Clay Center, daughter Julie, son Mark, two grandchildren, Christina and Samantha and great granddaughter Ava. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, April 1, 2016 at 10:30 AM at the Clay Center United Methodist Church in Clay Center, KS Officiating the service will be Pastor Ryan Lynch Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Clay Center, KS Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 31, 2016 from 3-8 PM. The family will greet friends from 4-6 PM at Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home Memorials: Clay County Hospital Foundation, Clay Center Zoo or the United Methodist Church c/o the funeral home