Ruth Ellen Deckard, 87, of Springfield, passed away May 9, 2022. She was born September 8, 1934 to Carl and Katherine (Weber) Dickensheet.

She grew up in eastern Greene County on a dairy farm. Her first job was a hosiery model for Heers Department Store. She married the love of her life, Gerald Deckard, on July 5, 1954 after he saw a picture of Ruth that a classmate had aboard a Navy ship. He asked her to marry him on their first date. She loved being a stay-at-home mom, raising her four children.

She was very active in FCE, formerly known as Missouri Extension Homemakers Association, serving as State President for many years. She loved traveling to FCE National Conferences all over the world with one of her best friends Betty Reynolds. Ruth was also a lifelong member of Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church.

Ruth was loved and will be missed by her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband; sister and brother-in-law Mary Lou (Gordon) Mayfield; brothers and sisters-in-law Maurice (Ruth) and George (Janis) Dickensheet; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Lawanda and Howard Meltabarger; brother-in-law Ken Hamilton and mother and father-in-law Lloyd and Dahl Deckard.

She is survived by her children Becky (Dennis) Alday, Kathy (Charles) Harpell, Amy (Greg) Simkins and Charles (Melissa) Deckard; sister-in-law Roberta Hamilton; grandchildren Jennifer Alday (Vince Hamilton), Laura (Tyler) Childers, David (Kayleigh) Alday, Michael (Brianna) Inmon, John Inmon, Adam (Alexandra) Simkins and Holly (Donny) Bushner; great-grandchildren Cloe Stinnett, Ary Childers, Ava and Carly Alday, Kendric, Anderson and Marshall Simkins, Logan, Lucas and Landon Bushner, Raven Schmidt, Jareth Powell and Reyya Inmon and numerous nieces, nephews and other close family and friends.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 – 4:00 PM on Sunday, May 15, 2022 at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be at 10:00 AM on Monday, May 16, also at the Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Hazelwood Cemetery. Memorial Contributions can be made to Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church.