Elizabeth Ann Ruggles

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that the family of Elizabeth “Annie” Ruggles announce her passing. Ann was a dedicated and well-respected police officer for the Peoria Police Department. She started her career in law enforcement in 1974, serving as one of five female officers in the department. Ann served many positions throughout her 34 years on the police force. She started as a rookie patrolman, then transferring to the Detective Bureau’s Juvenile Division, Vice Unit and Community Affairs Division. She served as the head of Crime Stoppers and as the Public Information Officer for seven years before her retirement in 2008. During her career, she received numerous letters of commendation and appreciation, including a Distinguished Service Award in 1988 and the American Legion Meritorious Award in 2006.

Born in Quincy, Illinois, to Charles and Darlene Walker-Ruggles. She was a graduate of Carthage High School in Carthage, Illinois. After high school Ann moved to Peoria, where she worked at the Peoria State Hospital in Bartonville before attending the police academy.

To know her was to love her. She was the “favorite aunt”. Ann treated her nieces and nephews as if they were her own. She opened her home to family members as they pursued their next steps in life. Ann was known to be a wonderful role model as a woman police officer. She was great at giving advice and being a mentor to those around her. After her retirement she became an emergency foster parent, and later adopted her son Brandon, where she got to fulfill her motherly instincts.

Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Brandon Mabry of Peoria, Illinois; sister Donna (Rellis) High of Venice, Florida; sister Patty (Jess) Hinman of Kennewick, Washington; niece Kelly (Robert) Campion of Chillicothe, Illinois; niece Melissa (Rory) Eubanks of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; nephew Matthew (Monica) High of Solon, Iowa; niece Ashley (Derek) Huelsmann of Glen Carbon, Illinois; nephew Michael Hinman (Kelsey Griffin) of Seattle, Washington; along with six great nephews and four great nieces.

Ann was predeceased by her parents Charles and Darlene Ruggles, her brother Tony Ruggles and her niece Shelli Ruggles.

A service will be held on a later date.

Memorials may be made to the Greater Peoria Area Crime Stoppers, P.O. Box 5232, Peoria, Illinois 61601.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Woolsey-Wilton.com for the Ruggles family.