Mattie Ruth Holderfield

Ruth Woodard Holderfield quietly slipped away on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, at the age of 94.

Ruth was born November 19, 1922 in Naylor, Mo. Her parents were Sadie Barfield Woodard and Grover Cleveland Woodard.

Ruth graduated from Naylor High School and Cape College. Her teaching career began in Naylor and after 32 years she retired in 1980. Over the years she taught Head Start, Kindergarten and first grade through twelfth grade.

On June 1, 1955, Ruth married K.L. Holderfield in Las Vegas, Nevada. He preceded her in death on October 4, 2015 after 60 years of marriage.

Ruth and K.L loved to ride their motorcycle and side-car, take drives through the country in their convertible, sit on the back porch watching wild-life and listening to the birds and viewing the beautiful sunsets.

Ruth leaves behind a step-daughter, Kendra and her husband Jan Beardsley of St. Charles, Mo.; two granddaughters, Chris and her husband Roger Keller and their three children, Morgan, Brock and Cole of St. Charles, Mo. and Laura and her husband Randy Miller and their two children, Drew and Katie of Victoria, Minn.; and three nieces, Nancy Fuller and her husband Ed, Betty Simmons and her husband Steve and Carol Blackwell and several great nieces and nephews.

Ruth was also proceeded in death by a sister, Wilma Blackwell and two brothers, Robert Woodard and Carlton Woodard.

A graveside service and burial will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Black Creek Cemetery in Poplar Bluff with the Rev. Steve Simmons officiating.