Ruth E. Turner

Ruth Elizabeth Averill Turner, age 87, of Anthony, KS, was met halfway down the eternal path by her late husband, Everett, and he escorted her into the Lord’s presence in Heaven on June 11, 2025. 

Ruth Elizabeth Averill was born April 13, 1938, in Byron, Oklahoma to Herman and Ruby (Lirley) Averill.  She was born at her Uncle Montgomery Averill’s house on a very cold day. It had snowed several days before and her dad had to shovel a whole mile to open the road so the doctor could make it to the house to deliver her.  She was their only child. Growing up she had several nicknames, “Squirt”, “Dizzy-Lizzy”, and “Ruthie”.

The family moved to Corwin, KS, where Ruth went to first and second grade. It was a two-room schoolhouse. Her room consisted of first through fourth grades in one room and fifth through eighth grades in another room. Soon after they moved to Anthony, KS, she started third grade. In her fifth to eighth grades, she and her girlfriend, Carol Mayo, loved to play jacks together. They were known as the “Jack Queens”. Back then jacks was a game many of the girls played.  They were so good and always beat the other girls, so the other girls started making them play using their left hands. But after a while they were just as good with their left hands.

Every summer Ruth loved staying with her Aunt Minnie and Uncle Chauncey White’s house in Byron, OK. She had so many wonderful memories of them and talked often about how much fun she had and her many adventures on their farm.

Ruth graduated from Anthony High School in 1956.  She loved to roller skate. While in high school she and a girlfriend Gail rode to the Harper Skating Rink with an older gentleman from her church. They usually went on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. One night he wrecked his car, so they didn’t have a way to get to Harper. They decided to go over to Everett Turner’s house to see if they could both ride with him to go skating, as he was always there skating as well. He said yes and offered to take Mr. Smith with them as well. When going home each night Everett would always drop off the girls first.  But one night he dropped off everyone else first before dropping off Ruth. That night he asked her out on a date to a movie the next night, and of course she accepted.

The Harper Skating Rink is where Ruth met the love of her life, Everett Turner. That same year on October 3, 1958, they were married in Anthony, Kansas. To this union, they were blessed with two daughters, Gina Lavon, on January 18, 1960, and Judy Kay, on November 30, 1962.

Ruth was a homemaker while raising her two daughters. To help save money, she sewed some of their dresses and canned vegetables from their yearly garden. After the girls were older, she worked several jobs outside of the home to help supplement their income. She worked at the laundromat and before retirement she worked at Nelson’s Restaurant, and along with Everett they both cleaned Nelson’s Restaurant every night, spending as much time together as possible.

She taught both of her daughters how to crochet when they were young. They crocheted many beautiful afghans. Their daughters remember their mom and dad were always at all their school programs.  They were so proud of the girls in everything they did.

The family attended the Anthony Nazarene Church where Ruth was a Sunday school teacher.  She loved going to church and each Sunday she looked forward to seeing all the kids in her class.  They also looked forward to seeing her each Sunday. She made such a difference in all their lives.  

Ruth was a quiet lady. She kept many thoughts and life’s hardships to herself. She accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age. She prayed to God every day and put everything in His hands. In February 1989 she wrote in a book that she wanted her life to reflect her Lord, even in death. She wanted to leave a memory with her daughters of a praying, God fearing mother. 

Even though Ruth was a quiet lady, she sure could write some wonderful stories and poems that were so beautiful and heartwarming.

In 1995, Gina asked if she would write down some of her childhood memories growing up as well as her life with Everett and her daughters. She wrote such beautiful memories, stories, and poems that will forever be treasured. One of them was something she titled, “Our Kind of Love” that talked about her and Everett’s love for each other. Their daughters, Gina and Judy, can remember they NEVER saw their parents fight or argue. 

Everett and Ruth always took such great care of each other. They were inseparable. In 2017, they both went to live at the Anthony Community Care Center and stayed in the same room together until Everett passed on April 25, 2020. For Ruth it has been a very sad and hard time without the love of her life by her side.

Ruth loved to read and enjoyed coloring in adult coloring books using colored pencils. She also loved to watch the Hallmark channel. The nurses shared with us sometimes when they walked past her room they saw she was crying. They knew she was watching romance movies and thinking of Everett. 

Ruth went on some trips with others with the Anthony Community Care Center. She enjoyed going to the Sedgwick County Zoo several times, riding in the Harper County parade in Harper, and going to the circus last year.

Preceding her in death was her husband, Everett, her parents Herman and Ruby Lirley Averill, and her in-laws, Evan Turner and Melissa Turner (Castor).

Survivors include her daughters, Gina Hess (Rick Dolley) of Argonia, KS, and Judy Gertsch (Rory) of Anthony, KS, granddaughter, Crystal Gertsch of Anthony, KS, great grandson, Daniel Broussard (Alejandra), of Medicine Lodge, KS, great granddaughter, Nicole Broussard (Colby Miller), of Goodland, KS, great great granddaughter, Amelia Broussard, and great great grandson, Landon Broussard, of Medicine Lodge, KS, other nieces, nephews, family and friends.  Ruth had a special friend there at the Care Center, Jeanie Bazer, who shared time with her. Ruth will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.

Viewing and visitation will be Monday morning, June 16, 2025, between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Funeral service will be held that afternoon on Monday, June 16, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Prairie Rose Funeral Home in Anthony, KS. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Ruth Turner may be made to Anthony Community Care Center or Country Care Hospice, all in care of Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 602 E. Main Street, Anthony, Kansas 67003. Burial will follow her service at Spring Grove Cemetery.