Ruth M. Garn

TRAVERSE CITY — Ms. Ruth M. Garn, 86, nearly a life-long resident of Traverse City, passed away Thursday, March 30, 2006, while at the Grand Traverse Pavilions.

Ms. Garn was a Registered Nurse at the Traverse City State Hospital from 1947 through her retirement in 1983. She was involved in the administration of a number of the facilities at that hospital.

She was born in Cadillac on April 7, 1919, to Chauncy and Mae (Parke) Garn. She was a graduate of Traverse City High School and also graduated from the Traverse City State Hospital School of Nursing in 1941.

Ruth was particularly sensitive to the plight of animals and the less fortunate. She was a consistent giver to many important charities during her life and spent much of her time taking care of the homeless animals of her neighborhood.

Ruth was a great writer of letters and kept family and friends up to date with the lost art of writing letters. We, her family and friends, will miss her determination and buoyant spirit.

Ruth was blessed to have great friends and neighbors, who in the best tradition of love and concern were to help her considerably in her golden years. Evelyn Albright was almost like a sister to Ruth. Dale and Joanne Gary were nearly life-long neighbors and looked out for one another in that admonition from the Savior we are our Brothers Keepers.

Ruth is survived by sister-in-law, Phyllis Garn, wife of Rex Garn, and their three children, Myk Garn of Kentucky, Patricia Heinman of Florida, and Jack Swanson of Florida. Ruth also had grand-nieces and grand-nephews that survived her that were the children of Earl and Helen Garn of Traverse City and then Coldwater. These were Terrence Garn, Richard Garn and Nancy Garn, all of Coldwater. Her sister, Donna Garn Pillars, and her husband, H.W. Buck had a daughter, Shirley Pillars-Becker, and her husband, Bill, of Traverse City, who also survive Ruth.

Ruth was preceded in death by two brothers, Earl and Rex Garn; and one sister, Donna Garn Pillars.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 4, at 10:30 a.m., at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. Officiating will be the Rev. Tamara Williams. Friends may begin calling at 9:30 a.m., at the funeral home. Ruth will be interred at the family plot in Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.

Those wishing to give a memorial please consider the Cherryland Humane Society.

Please sign Ruth's on-line guest book at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.

This obituary was originally published in the Record-Eagle.