Ruth M. McNear

ST. JOSEPH – Ruth M. McNear, 91, of St. Joseph passed away on Tuesday (Aug. 16, 2016) at Presence Covenant Medical Center, Urbana.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, with Brother Judd Travis officiating. Burial will be in Patterson Cemetery, St. Joseph. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Ruth was born on March 22, 1925, at Cowden, the daughter of Jesse and Grace (Mummel) Severe.

Ruth married David McNear on May 29, 1945. He preceded her in death on Jan. 4, 1993. Also preceding her in death were her parents; brother, Jesse Glee Severe; stepson, Marion McNear; and a step-great-grandson, Jimmy Frazier.

She is survived by seven children, Jesse McNear (Anna) of Louisville, Ky., Jerry McNear of Urbana, Rhonda Mitchell (Danny) of Champaign, Roberta McKee (Bill) of Sidney, Randy McNear of St. Joseph, Ramona Hauersperger (Martin) of Pesotum and Rosemary McNear of Homer.

Also surviving are three stepchildren, Charles (Anne) McNear of Hilton Head Island, S.C., Doris (Mike) Boggs of Brownstown, Ill., and Jane Head of Purdin, Mo.; 14 grandchildren, Angela McNear (Demetreaus) of Louisville, Ky., Jerome McNear (Trisha) of Louisville, Ky., Jason McNear (Tanya) of St. Johns, Fla., Misty (Chris) Grossman of Mount Zion, Gena McNear of Cisco, Justin Jett (Carrie) of Pflugerville, Texas, Marci Mitchell of St. Joseph, Bryan McNear (Angel) of Westville, Erin Bailey (Brian) of Sidney, Josita Recinos of Louisville, Ky., Brandise Atkinson (Brian) of Palm Springs, Calif., Derek Hauersperger of Pesotum, Joshua Pizell of Homer and Taylor Pruitt of Homer; 15 step-grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; one step-great-granddaughter; and one step-great-great-granddaughter.

Ruth attended Cowden High School in Cowden.

She was a warm, compassionate, caring person who brought joy and laughter to everyone she met. She never met a stranger, she loved to read, do find-a-word puzzles and spend time with family. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend who will be greatly missed. Heaven is getting a special angel.

Memorials may be made to Rainbow Hospice, 1550 Bishop Court, Mount Prospect, IL 60056; or Alzheimer's Association, PO Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011; or to an organization of the donor's choice.