Ruth Anne Grizzell, 80 of Butler, Missouri passed away January 17, 2015 at Willow Lane Nursing Center in Butler. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at Ohio Street United Methodist Church in Butler with Pastor Sandy Schaller and Rev. Ron Dunlap officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 6-8 PM at the Mullinax Funeral Home (660-679-0009) in Butler. Interment will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Butler. Contributions are suggested to the Ohio Street United Methodist Church, or Happy Hill Church of God, and are being received at the funeral home. Messages of condolence may be left at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com. The family requests that in celebration of Ruth Anne’s life, guests wear purple to the funeral services.
Ruth “Ruthie” Anne (Rippee) Grizzell was born October 24, 1934 in Wright County, Missouri in “a little log cabin across the creek from Grandma’s house.” She was the daughter of Marion Virgil and Lois Marjorie (Pyatt) Rippee.
Ruth Anne was raised and went to school in Southwest Missouri before marrying her husband David; starting in Niangua, Mo. to Independence, Mo., and settling in Butler in 1953. They had five children: David, Jess, Cynthia, Carol and Lisa. Ruth was a mother and business partner; Ruth and David had started a small business and purchased the first Bass Pro Shop franchise, and added a variety of cheese, liquor and gifts.
Ruth was very active in the United Methodist Church and choir. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, and served on various committees of the Bates County Fair, Dairy Women (Dairy Day), Bates County Career Women, United Methodist Women, and she also coached softball and bowling. She loved music and enjoyed the Lyle Norman Players. She also loved the Sunday evening Happy Hill church services. Her hobbies included golf, bridge, flowers, and crocheting. Ruth also enjoyed opening her home to her kids and their friends as a place to hang out, and later received much joy from her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a true fighter to the end and will be missed by her family and friends.
Ruth is preceded in death by her parents; husband David Luther Grizzell, Sr.; son David Luther Grizzell, Jr.; and great-granddaughter Hannah Nicole Saulsbury. She is survived by a sister, Sarah Freeman of Springfield, Missouri; daughter-in-law Barbara Grizzell of Raintree with grandchildren Jennifer and Curt Talley of Lake Winnebago, Mo., (parents of great-grandchildren Isabella Talley and Brooks Talley); grandchildren Abby Grizzell of Lee’s Summit and Taylor Grizzell of Greenwood; son Jess Grizzell and wife Cindy of Waynesville with grandchildren Valerie Saulsbury-Effertz (mother of great-grandchildren Hunter Saulsbury, Macy Saulsbury and Chase Effertz); granddaughter Tracey Grizzell Rapp and husband Jeff of Butler (parents of great-granddaughter Sophie Cummings); grandson Matthew Grizzell and fiancé Megan Ramsey of Olathe, Kansas; and grandson Trevor Grizzell of Kansas City, Missouri; daughter Cynthia Grizzell Breon and husband Steve of Kansas City, Missouri, with grandson Bobby Breon and wife Leslie of Overland Park, Kansas and granddaughter Andrea Breon Daniels and husband Billy of Overland Park; daughter Carol Grizzell of Peculiar, Missouri with granddaughter Meagan Schmidt of Madison, Wisconsin; daughter Lisa Grizzell Tenholder and husband Jim of Butler, with grandchildren Liz Tenholder of Butler, Brian Tenholder and wife Nikki (parents of great-grandchildren Brunson, Kayden and Reagan); granddaughter Delaina Tenholder Newsome and husband Shawn of Harrisonville (and great-grandchildren Chloe and Gabriella “Gabby”); and grandson David Tenholder of Butler.
