Visitation will be held at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bettendorf, IA, on Friday, July 26th, at 11:00 a.m. with funeral service held at Noon, and a luncheon following. Burial will be at Davenport Memorial Park, Davenport, IA. Memorials can be made to Asbury Church, Hillcrest Family Services in Dubuque, IA, or the American Cancer Society.
She was born December 8, 1929, in the beautiful Ouachita Mountains in Garland County near Hot Springs, AR. The daughter of Edgar Sherman Slaten and Martha (Mattie) Jane Mc Clard Slaten. At the age of five, her family moved to north Missouri, near Princeton, and later to Clearmont, MO, where she graduated from high school in 1947. She then taught one year in Taylor County, IA, I a rural one-room school (Works School) in 1947 – 1948.
She graduated and received her Bachelor of Science degree, with a major in Vocational Home Economics, from NW Missouri State Univ. at Maryville, MO, in 1951. She married Marvin L. Mc Morran June 3, 1951, at the First Baptist Church in Bedford, IA. They both taught in Afton High School, Afton, IA, 1951 – 1953, then moved to Lone Tree, IA, and taught in the high school there while her husband was attending the Univ. of Iowa. Upon his graduation in 1954, they moved to Bettendorf, IA, where they lived for the remainder of their lives.
She loved teaching school and being a mother to their three children, Philip, Richard, and Rachel. She was actively involved in teaching Sunday school at Asbury UMC, being a Cub Scout leader, and in all school activities.
In the summer of 1968, Ruth decided to study for her Master’s degree; Colorado State Univ., Ft. Collins, CO, was the college of their choice. Marvin and the children enjoyed camping in the Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park and all of God’s great outdoors, while she drove 35 mi into Ft. Collins each day to attend classes. It was a busy schedule for 10 weeks each summer, but it worked out well for all. The children loved these summers in CO and did not miss radio, television, classes, electricity and busy schedules, but were busy with books, games, exploring, and fishing in the Poudre Rier, especially after it had just been stocked with rainbow trout. They even had names for the chipmunks and had favorite big rocks, where they enjoyed eating their lunch. After four busy summers, and the support of her husband, Ruth received her Masters of Science degree with a major in Textiles and Clothing in the spring of 1972.
She continued to teach Home Economics at Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley schools, retiring in 1992 after 30 years education. She was responsible for founding the pre-school, in conjunction with the child development class at PVHS in 1969 – 1970his. This was the first such venture in the state of IA, which proved to be a successful undertaking and method for studying the development of small children, and now has a budget and new location on the first floor.
After retiring, she enjoyed volunteering with the Luther Manor Meal site in Bettendorf, Discovery Shop, Angel Tree program, Putnam Museum, Festival of Trees and was a member of UMW of Asbury, retirees of Asbury, Davenport Area Retired School Personnel, Alpha Circle of Kings Daughters, National Education Association, IA Education Association, and CO State Alumni Association.
Survivors include son and daughter-in-law, Philip and Debbie McMorran, Marion, IA; Richard & Candi Mc Morran, Eads, TN; and daughter Rachel Brown, Goodrich, TX; six grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and many nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Marvin L. Mc Morran in 2013; siblings Robert Slaten, JB Slaten, Irene Reynolds, Richard Slaten and Annabel Davison.
