Bessie I. Ruggles

Bessie I. Ruggles
March 24, 1914 - March 29, 2007
North English, IA
Visitation: 4 PM to 8 PM March 30, 2007 at Powell Funeral Home, North English, IA
Funeral Service: 1:00 PM March 31, 2007 at United Methodist Church, Keswick, IA
Interment: March 31, 1907 at Sorden Cemetery
Bessie Ivalee Ruggles was born on March 24, 1914 in Glenwood, MO, a daughter of Edgar John and Nancy Belle Nelson Mather. She grew up and attended a country school between Glenwood and Coatsville, MO. Bessie was united in marriage to John Henry Ruggles on September 18, 1929 in Lancaster, MO. They lived in Coatsville, MO until moving south of Sigourney, IA in 1938. In 1948 they moved south of Harper, IA. At that time Bessie was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church. In 1956 they moved to Keswick. She owned and operated Bessie's Place approximately 15 years while helping her husband operate the Keswick Tavern. She retired in 1985 but spent several years cooking at the English Valley Care Center in North English. They lived in Keswick for 48 years. Bessie was a member of the James Murphy American Legion Post #139 Auxiliary, The Sorden Cemetery Association and the Keswick United Methodist Church. She is survived by a son Keith Ruggles (Darlene) of Thornburg, IA; a daughter, Betty Joan Davis of South English, IA; 8 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren; a sister Colleen Kiefer of Keswick, IA; sister-in-laws Maxine Mather of Webster, IA and Mildred Mather of Sigourney, IA; and several nieces and nephews. Bessie was preceded in death by her parents, husband in May 1991, sisters Maxine Croft, Helen Mather and infant sisters Lula Mather and Betty Mather; brothers: Joseph, James, Boyd and David Mather; a son-in-law Robert Davis; 3 grandsons: Jerry, Mark and Steve Davis; a granddaughter-in-law Connie Davis and a great grandson James Long.
Bessie I. Ruggles, age 93, died following a brief illness at the English Valley Care Center in North English, IA on Thursday, March 29, 2007. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, March 31, 2007 at the Keswick United Methodist Church, Keswick, IA, with Pastors Richard Smith and James Stout officiating. Burial will be in the Sorden Cemetery near Webster, IA. Visitation will be form 4 pm to 8 pm Friday, March 30, 2007 at the Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in North English, IA. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com under obituaries. A memorial fund has been established for Keokuk County Hospice.