Ruth Ellen Heaton

Ruth Ellen Heaton (Schollars), 84, passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by loved ones, on November 15. She was raised in Northeast Kansas City, MO, one of eleven children.

Ruth attended Assumption Elementary and Glennon High School before entering the Sisters of Mercy Convent, where she spent 15 years devoted to service and education.

Ruth earned her BS in Education from the College of St. Mary in Omaha, NE, and later completed her MFA at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO.

After leaving the convent, Ruth was introduced to a fellow artist, John Heaton, by a priest who knew them both well - and who would go on to officiate their wedding. The two later divorced after a 17-year marriage.

She was an art teacher for more than 30 years, teaching first in Catholic schools and then in the Kansas City, MO school district, spending many of those years at Central High School. After her teaching career, Ruth spent several years working in real estate, where her artistic eye and her passion for helping people continued.

A lifelong believer in helping her neighbors and those less fortunate, Ruth was known for her countless acts of kindness - whether she was preparing food to share, offering someone an escape when they needed it, or simply being a great listener. She spent her last years in her community at Overland Park Place, where she was known for her kindness to all and for keeping a smile on her face. Her passion for art and creativity even continued in retirement, through the classes she taught to her neighbors and the knowledge she freely shared. And if you knew Ruth, you likely owned something she had thoughtfully sewn or crafted.

A doting grandma, mom, sister and friend, Ruth delighted in time spent with her loved ones. She found joy in many simple pleasures, including cheering on the Kansas City Royals - often with heartfelt enthusiasm, even in the tough seasons. Late in life, she even discovered that she enjoyed the company of dogs, in her son's beloved companions, Zoey and Milo, who brought her unexpected delight.

Undemanding and always quick to forgive, she carried an unfailing optimism, always searching for the positive in any situation. She believed deeply that every person has a story - and that we should never judge one another without understanding the different lives we each have lived.

Ruth was preceded in death by her former husband, John; her parents, Aaron & Gertrude; her brothers, Billy, Fred, Bob, and Jack; her sisters, Doris, Martha, and Ann; Kevin Tull, her son who was gifted by marriage.

Ruth is survived by her children, Tiffany King (Steve) and Christian Heaton (Luis); her grandchildren, Griffin and Eliza King; and her sisters, Mary Blincoe and Sue Mercier. She is also survived by her children gifted through marriage, Holiday Atkinson and David Tull. She is further survived by many nieces, nephews, extended family, and dear friends.

A funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 7023 W. 71st Street, Overland Park, KS 66204. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by Mass at 10:30 a.m.

Her family wishes to thank the ever-caring and dedicated doctors, nurses, and staff of St. Luke's Hospital of Kansas City. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the St. Luke's Foundation or Operation Breakthrough, or taking a meal to someone in need.