Ruth Kern Kuyk

Ruth Kern vonOeyen Kuyk was born in Detroit on Nov. 22, 1916 and died peacefully the morning of March 6, 2014 at her home in White Lake, Michigan. She was the eldest of four, having 2 brothers, Robert (late) and Paul, and a sister, Mary.

A spelling bee champion, she graduated from Eastern High School in Detroit a year ahead of her class and went to work for the Rayl Company in Detroit until her marriage to A. Kenneth Kuyk on March 1, 1941. They had 5 children: the first 3, Bill, Jerry, and Elsa, were born between 1942 and 1946, and after a gap of almost 10 years, Margie and Nancy were born. In 1961 the family moved from Detroit to Silver Lake near Fenton, where she was a longtime resident and a longtime member of Tyrone Covenant Church in Fenton. In 2004 Ruth and Ken became residents of Independence Village of White Lake.

She was a loving wife and mother, grandmother of 12, great-grandmother of 7, a gifted Sunday school teacher, deaconess, choir member, a popular Avon lady and a Stephen Minister. She had amazing skills as a seamstress, gardener, nature lover, whistler, and collector of many things.

She will be most remembered for her friendliness, love of people, compassionate listening skills and Christian faith.

Family will receive friends Tuesday March 11, 2014, beginning at 10:00 am until the time of service at 11:00 am, at Tyrone Covenant Presbyterian Church, 10235 White Lake Rd., Fenton, Michigan. Visitation will be held on Monday March 10, 2014, from 5:00 – 8:00 pm, at the Union Lake Road Chapel of the Elton Black & Son Funeral Home, 1233 Union Lake Road White Lake, Michigan 48386. Memorials appreciated to Seasons Hospice or Tyrone Covenant Presbyterian Church.