Carmichael, Ruth Gwendolyn 1914-2005

CARMICHAEL, JOHNSON, DAVIDSON, KARR, GOODRICH, NATHLICH, IHLE, PHILLIPS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/29/2013 at 13:47:07

The Brooklyn (IA) Chronicle; Dec. 14, 2005

RUTH G. CARMICHAEL, 91

Mrs. Ruth G. Carmichael, 91, of Brooklyn, died, Dec. 5, 2005, in University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, of a sudden illness.

Funeral services for Ruth were held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec 10, at the Grace United Methodist church, Brooklyn. Rev. David Rogula, pastor, officiated. The musician was Marilyn Kriegel and the flutist was Jo Beth Karr. Special selections were "Amazing Grace," "Precious Lord Take My Hand," and "It Is Well With My Soul." Casket-bearers were Bradley and DAnn Karr, David and Jo Beth Karr, Clayton and Mary Beth Elizabeth Karr, Andrews Carmichael, and Nicole and Andrew Phillips. Interment was in Brooklyn Memorial Cemetery.

A memorial fund has been established. Nevenhoven Funeral Services was in charge of arrangements.

Ruth Gwendolyn Davidson Carmichael was born November 16, 1914 on the family farm west of Brooklyn. Her parents were William Albert Davidson and Nina Charlotte Johnson Davidson.

She received her education in Brooklyn, graduating in 1932. Ruth received her RN in 1938 from the Iowa Methodist School of Nursing, Des Moines. She loved working there with the babies.

On February 25, 1940, she was united in marriage with Kenneth Burton Carmichael in her parents' rural home. They farmed for four years northeast of Brooklyn. In 1944, they bought a family farm three miles west of town. In 1988 they moved into Brooklyn.

Ruth raised her family, then worked as a nurse for two years at Brookhaven Nursing Home. After additional education, she became the home's administrator until retiring in 1979. She then devoted her time to her husband and family. She loved cooking, flowers, vegetable gardening, quilting and crocheting.

Ruth was a long time member of Grace United Methodist Church, adult Sunday school class, UMW, Emanon Club, and River Road Club. She was a leader for the Bear Creek Pepper Uppers Girls 4-H Club, a helper with the Cub Scouts, and a Sunday school teacher. The couple delivered meals on wheels for twelve years.

Her husband of sixty-three years; her parents; her brother, Horace Davidson; and a daughter-in-law, Jessie Moore Carmichael, preceded her in death.

Survivors include twin sons, Richard and Robert Carmichael of Brooklyn; her daughter, Karen (formerly Karr) Goodrich and husband, Gary, of St. Louis, Mo.; her twin sisters, Margaret Nathlich and husband, Irvin of Mt. Vernon, Ill., and Miriam Ihle of Boxwford, Mass.; four grandchildren, Bradley (DAnn) Karr, David (Jo Beth) Karr, Clayton (Mary Elizabeth) Karr, Andrew Carmichael and Nicole (Andrew) Phillips; and five great grandhchildren, Kyrstin, Blaine, Michaela, Garrett and Norah Karr.