Rayburn, Ruth Jean

RAYBURN, SULLIVAN, MCELDOWNEY

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 5/27/2013 at 01:41:53

Ruth Jean Rayburn, 85, Clear Lake, Iowa died Monday Feb. 25, 2013 at her home.

Funeral services will be 10:30a.m.Friday Marc h 1, 2013 at the Clear Lake United
Methodist Church, Clear Lake, Iowa with Rev. Bernie Colorado officiating.
Following the service she will be cremated and inurnment will take place at a
later time in Clear Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from
5:00p.m.-7:00p.m. at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake and then one
hour before the service on Friday at the church. In lieu of flowers the family
suggests memorials to Clear Lake United Methodist Church or Clear Lake
Opportunity Village.

Ruth was born Nov. 6, 1927 in Bloomfield, Iowa the daughter of Johnny Orval and
Metta Gladys (McEldowney) Sullivan. She graduated from Bloomfield High School
in 1946. She taught school for one year 1946-1947 in rural Davis County.

She was united in marriage to Charles W. Rayburn Jan. 31, 1947 at the Christian
Church parsonage in Bloomfield, Iowa. Ruth has been happly married to her loving
husband Charles for 66 years. They moved to Clear Lake, Iowa in 1965. She was a
talented seamstress and had a sewing and alterations shop for over forty years
retiring in 2000. Ruth was a card artist whose Card Art by Ruth provided
greeting and comfort for thousands over the years.

She enjoyed swimming at the village where she had an infinity of friends, and
appreciated reading, bird watching, going on scenic bus trips and traveling. She
was an excellent cook and kept her family stocked in homemade jellies and
pickled beets. She was known as the Sullivan’s family historian.

She was a member of United Methodist Church, Clear Lake; United Methodist Women
Circle; Sorsis Club and Tops #430 Clear Lake.

Ruth is survived by her loving husband of 66 years Charles Rayburn, Clear Lake,
Iowa; four children Jack (Beth) Rayburn, Mankato, Mn., Gene (Judy) Rayburn, St.
Paul, Mn., Russell Rayburn, Clear Lake, Iowa and Ann (Dennis) Wall, Windsor
Hts., Iowa; two grandchildren Elizabeth Christensen Rayburn and her fiancé Caleb
Barron, Santa Cruz, California and Brian C. Wall, Windsor Hts., Iowa; seven
siblings Kay Johnson, Newton, Iowa, Frank Sullivan, Kennewick, Washington, Mary
Fulkerson, Newton, Iowa, Nanci Gee, Ottumwa, Iowa, Judy (Charles) McMains, Mesa,
Arizona, Harry Sullivan, Murfreesboro,Tennessee. And Eunice Taylor, Mesa,
Arizona; sister-in-law Ethel Sullivan, Ottumwa, Iowa and several nieces and
nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters Doris Whitacre, Joy
Swanson and Alberta Collister; three brothers Park, Robert and Johnny Sullivan;
five brother-in-laws and 2 sister-in-laws.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake, Iowa 641-357-2193
ColonialChapels.com