Ruby Wood

Fern Morrow Wood, 89, a longtime resident of Cherryvale, Kan., died peacefully on Friday, June 29, 2012, at her residence of the past three years, Andover Court in Andover, Kansas. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, a teacher to many elementary children, an author and a lover of adventures and celebrations. She was born Ruby Fern Morrow on August 17, 1922, to Mildred and Lige Morrow in Strauss, Kansas. She graduated from Labette County High School in 1939, attended Normal Training and began teaching in rural schools at the age of 17. She earned her Bachelors Degree from Pittsburg State University in 1961 and her Masters Degree in 1965. Ferns first teaching jobs were in oneroom rural schools in Labette and Montgomery counties, where she taught all subjects, grades 1 through 8. While arranging for an auctioneer for a box supper, she met Leonard Wood, a local farmer. The two were married October 18, 1942, and shared a wonderful life together for 62 years. The two lived on the family farm for nearly 50 years, and they traveled to 49 states and four countries. Leonard preceded her in death in 2005. Fern taught for 26 years in Cherryvale elementary schools, and she enjoyed reading to the children, organizing Japanese tea parties each year and staging plays. She was also the first Head Start teacher in Cherryvale. Fern was named Master Teacher in 1973 and retired in 1987. She was a longtime member of the United Methodist Church in Cherryvale and taught Sunday School classes for many years. She loved local history and sharing stories. She wrote Pop and Bud, a book about her fathers country store, The Benders: Keepers of the Devils Inn, a book about Cherryvales famous mass murdering family from the 1800s, and Born to Teach, about her experiences as a teacher. As a local historian, she served on the Cherryvale Museum Board for many years and organized the towns Bender Day for four years. Fern enjoyed organizations and public speaking, and she was a local and state leader for the American Association of University Women, Delta Kappa Gamma and the Kansas Authors Club. She was an enthusiastic supporter of Cherryvale and helped organize the Cherryvales Centennial celebration and a Heritage Day to celebrate the countrys Bicentennial, and she was a leader of Cherryvales Main Street effort. Her most important work was as a wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a project leader in the local 4H Club and directed prizewinning skits. Her grandchildren enjoyed her handmade quilts, her decorated cakes, her Sunday dinners and her Christmas goody boxes. She is survived by her three children and their spouses, Mike and Margaret Wood of Wichita, Kansas Sherry and Dick Ruddell of Fort Worth, Texas Toni Wood and Dan Gallaher of Shawnee, Kansas six grandchildren and their spouses: Kerri and James Thomson of Cherryvale, Kansas the Rev. Chris Ruddell and the Rev. Crystal Hughes of Morris, Oklahoma Jessica and Nathan Nielsen of Dayton, Ohio Alex Treaster of Kansas City, Missouri Grant and Brandy Treaster of Charlotte, North Carolina and Nicholas Treaster of Shawnee, Kansas. She also is survived by two greatgrandsons, Jack Andrew Thomson, who brought her great joy when he visited, and William Weldon HughesRuddell, who was born on the day that Fern died. She is also survived by three sisters: Virginia Fairchild, Kingman, Kansas Betty Ledford and her husband Gary of Cherokee, Kansas and Carol Cormeny of Deepwater, Missouri. Fern was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Bill Morrow. She was greatly loved and will be missed by her extended family and her many friends and former students. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 6, at the Potts Funeral Home in Cherryvale. A celebration of her life will occur at the United Methodist Church in Cherryvale at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 7. Interment in Fairview Cemetery in Cherryvale. Memorials may be made to the Cherryvale United Methodist Church or the Cherryvale History Museum, care of Potts Funeral Home, 122 S. Penn, P.O. Box 801, Independence, Kansas, 67301.