Obituary of Ruth Ottilia McConnell

Age 89, passed away on January 30, 2010 at Covenant Cooper in Saginaw. The funeral service will take place at Martin Funeral Home - Clark Chapel, in Fairgrove on Saturday, February 6, 2010, at 11:00am. Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 2:00pm until 8:00pm, and again on Saturday from 10:00am until the time of service. Burial will take place at Brookside Cemetery in Fairgrove. Memorial contributions may be directed to Fairgrove Township Library, Bethel Methodist Church, or your favorite charity; envelopes are available at the funeral home. Ruth was born July 2, 1920, in Fairgrove, Michigan, to Grover and Ada Russell. She graduated from Fairgrove High School in 1937, County Normal in 1939, and Central Michigan University in 1955. She married Norman McConnell on November 20, 1942. He preceded her in death February 18, 1968. She was a member of the Bethel Methodist Church, where she was the church pianist for over 65 years. She was a member of the Business and Professional Women (BPW), Wixom Club, Retired School Personnel, MEA-NEA, Moreland Cooperative Extension Group for Women, and four bridge clubs in Caro. She started her 39 year teaching career with four years in county schools teaching K-8 with the balance in the Akron-Fairgrove school system. She was well known for reading the AaA"Little House on the PrairieAaA books to her third grade students. She was an avid reader and instilled the love of reading into her students. She traveled extensively and visited every continent except Antarctica. She was an avid photographer taking many pictures at every event. For over 40 years she worked each summer as Office Manager at the Tuscola County Fair. She is survived by a daughter, Ruth Anne (Russell) Routsong of Newnan, GA; grandson, Dwayne Dutton (Brian Bischer) of Lake Orion, MI; three Step-grandchildren, Andy (Stephanie) Routsong of Columbus, OH, Treasa Tichenor of Sharpsburg, GA, and Tom Routsong of Burr Oak, MI; nine step-great-grandchildren; brother Leonard (Beth) Russell of Akron; sister Phyllis (Paul) Findlay of Caro; ten nieces, nephews and their families. Besides her husband, Norman, she was predeceased by a son-in-law, Dormer AaA"ArtAaA Dutton in 2002.