Ruth Wilkinson Hatten's Obituary
Ruth Jeanette Wilkinson Hatten, daughter of Rev. Wesley M. and Lillie M. Little Kerr, was born August 23, 1922, in Clever, Missouri. She departed this life Thursday, February 17, 2011, in her home, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of eighty-eight years, five months, and twenty-four days. On August 12, 1942, she was united in marriage to Vern Jay Wilkinson, and to this union three daughters and one son were born. Mr. Wilkinson passed away on May 30, 1987. On June 16, 1991, she married Harry Scott Hatten, and they shared eighteen years before his passing on March 17, 2009. Her parents also preceded her in death. Ruth is survived by a son, Jay Wilkinson, and his wife, Mary Jane, of Dallas, Texas; three daughters, Jeri J. Ivey, and her husband, Frank, of DeSoto, Texas, Jane J. Young, and her husband, Chris, of Jacksonville, Florida, and Kathy McBride, and her husband, Tim, of Lebanon, Missouri; ten grandchildren, Katy, Kelley, Sara, Trey, Jeff, Kathryn, Rebecca, Matt, Mark, and Jay; seven great-grandchildren, Wesley, Parker, Abby, Logan, Cole, Drew, and Claire; as well as a host of other relatives and friends. She was born in the Clever, Missouri area, and then moved with her family to the Lebanon area, where Ruth graduated from Lebanon High School. After she and Vern were married, they lived in California for a couple of years. They then made their home in Laclede County, Missouri, where Ruth was a devoted homemaker and she and Vern lovingly raised their children. Ruth and Vern owned and operated Vern?s Malt Shop, a downtown Lebanon landmark, for over forty years. Later, Ruth and Harry made their home in Lebanon and enjoyed their retirement years. Ruth was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church in Lebanon, where she had been a Sunday school teacher and was active in the women?s circle. In her spare time she enjoyed playing bridge, golf, and fishing, being the first person to catch their limit of trout one year on opening day at Bennett Spring State Park. She liked dancing, both clogging and square dancing. She was very artistic and did beautiful water color paintings. She also had a fondness for birds. Her family was always the center of her life and she especially enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ruth was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and was a kind and caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and know that her family and friends will cherish the wonderful memories she made for them throughout the years.
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