Ruth Isabel Hahn Perry

A Celebration of Life for Ruth Isabel Hahn Perry, age 104.94, Baldwin City will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 7, 2017 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. Inurnment will be held at Worden Cemetery, Douglas County, KS. She passed away Monday, December 26, 2016 at her home.

Ruth was born January 17, 1912 in rural Cozad, NE the daughter of William and Mary Jane (Caley) Hahn.

She traveled from Nebraska to a ranch near Devil’s Tower in Wyoming in a covered wagon as a child. She lost her grandmother and mother to pneumonia in the same week when she was 16. She started teaching at the age of 18 in one-room schoolhouses in Wyoming in 1930. She rode a horse to school and back as much as 8 miles each way. She also taught in the Appanoose, Sigel, Wakarusa Valley and Riverside schools. At the age of 50 she earned her BA in education from Baker University. Ruth was baptized in 1932 and attended Worden United Methodist Church. She was a member of Business and Professional Women since 1938. After retiring from the Lawrence School District in 1977 she travelled to Alaska, Canada, England, Ireland, and all over the USA with her sister and husband in an RV. She substituted in Douglas County schools and was an avid Baldwin sports fan.

She married Charles L. Perry April 24, 1941. He preceded her in death (February 19, 1977)

She is survived by her son, Charles Perry, Baldwin City; daughters, Sally Sue Dunn, Baldwin City, Mary Lou Ellis (Bill) Medicine Bow, WY, Step-Daughter Patsy Sue Perry, Kansas City, KS; 11 grandchildren, Renee Sparks (Steve), Angie Heck (Brian), Nathan Perry (Kelly), Corey Dunn, Annie Berends, Mike McIntosh, Mark McIntosh, Matt McIntosh, Debbie Meek, Don Smith, Jr. and Shelly Young; 19 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren; and one sister, Mary Hilda Hild, and her faithful friend and caretaker, Clio Elrod.

She was also preceded in death by her brother, Juel Hahn and sister, Opal Allan and Step-Daughter, Sally Ann Smith.

The family will greet friends from 6 – 8 p.m. on Friday, January 6th at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.

Memorials may be made in her name to Compassionate Care Hospice or the Worden UMC, sent in care of the Warren-McElwain Mortuary.
Online condolences may be posted at warrenmcelwain.com.