Nancy Jo Marie Rutliff

Nancy Jo Marie (Hopkins) Rutliff, Liberty, MO, passed peacefully to Heaven's Gates on Wednesday April 3, 2024, in the arms of her life-long love (Mark Anthony Rutliff) & her house full of her family after a short but such a mighty battle with cancer.
She was born on July 8, 1963, in Independence, MO. She is the daughter of William Hopkins & Mary Jo Hopkins & sister to Mary Jo Hopkins. She was a devoted wife & best friend to her middle-school sweetheart, Mark Anthony Rutliff, where they just recently celebrated 37 years of marriage. Nancy was a proud mother to her two children, Ryan James Rutliff & Leah Beth (Rutliff) Gray and the most amazing Gigi to her two grandsons, Jameson Tomas Gray & Van Michael Rutliff. She was so proud of the families her children grew: Ryan Rutliff & his partner Erin Olson, Leah Gray & her husband, Jesse Gray.
Nancy spent her life loving her husband, Mark Rutliff. Her children were often told the story of how Mark first saw Nancy the first week of 7th Grade, where he proudly told his mother "That's Nancy. I am going to marry her one day." What a fruitful marriage it was. They loved to spend time outdoors together, dance & listen to music, and spend time with their children & grandsons. Their love will certainly live on for eternity.
Nancy was a world traveler, an adventurous spirit, and lover of the beach. She often took trips with her daughter & son, but her favorite place in the world was surrounded by her family in her home.
Nancy lit up every room she walked into. It was impossible to be around Nancy without smiling or laughing. She was gracious, so generous, the best judge of character, always full of life, honest, protective, the best friend, the most supportive daughter, a devoted & loving wife, and the most remarkable mother. The love her children have for her is a true testament of the woman she was.
It is often said that as long as we are here on Earth, we are strangers to the land. This world is not our home, rather, our true citizenship is in heaven. The moment we take our last breath on earth, we take our first beside the Lord in Heaven. Nancy's family finds peace in knowing that she has been healed in Heaven and her family looks forward to seeing her at the feet of our Heavenly Father.
She is survived by: Mary Jo Hopkins (mother), Karen Delaney (mother-in-law), Mark Rutliff (husband), Ryan Rutliff, Erin Olson, & Van Rutliff (son), and Leah Gray, Jesse Gray, and
Jameson Gray (daughter).
Services will be announced at a later date. If you would like to send well wishes to the family, please send a card with your favorite memory of Nancy, addressed to: Mary Jo Hopkins
1015 E. Hwy H, Liberty, MO 64068.