Ruth Hankey

Ruth Marie (Dunham) Hankey, age 95 of Tucson AZ, formerly of both Elsie and Litchfield, Ml, passed away Friday, June 29, 2018.

Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie, MI on Saturday, July 14, 2018 at 2:00 P.M., with Pastor Mona Kindel officiating.  Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Elsie, MI.  Visitation will be on Saturday from 12:30 P.M. until time of the service.

Ruth was born in Shiawassee County, Elsie MI on June 4, 1923, the daughter of Clifford & Opal (Crom) Dunham.  She graduated from Elsie High School with the class of 1941.  On August 7, 1943, in Texarkana Arkansas, Ruth married Rolland G. Hankey of Eureka MI.  They shared 73 years together before Rolland passed away on December 19, 2016. While Rolland served in England during WWII, Ruth worked at the State Savings Bank in Ovid. Following his discharge in 1946, they lived in St Johns and Eureka before building a home in Elsie in 1954. When Aurora gasoline closed in Elsie in 1959, Ruth, Rolland and their young family moved to Litchfield, MI.  There Ruth worked for Litchfield Community Schools from 1963-1980 as a cafeteria cook and later food service manager. Ruth was especially fond of doing gardening, needlework, many crafts and cooking. She also enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Following their retirements, they returned to Elsie for a number of years before moving to Tucson, AZ on a permanent basis in 2003.

Ruth is survived by her daughter Retha and James Davis of Tucson, AZ; 2 sons: Roger Hankey and Cheryll Brown of Eden Prairie, MN; Randall and Laurel Hankey of Oklahoma City, OK; 6 grandchildren: Oliver and Tara Davis, Logan and Lauren Davis, Rebecca and Ryan Dotson, Cassandra Hankey, Austin Hankey-Brown, and Adria and Mitchell Chavers; and 6, soon to be 7 great grandchildren, and sister in law Carolyn & Harold Slagell of St. Johns, MI.  Ruth was predeceased by her parents, husband Rolland, brother Emerson and Jean Dunham, and nephews: John and Harold Dunham.

Memorials may be made payable to Christ Presbyterian Church, 6565 E Broadway, Tucson, AZ 85710 and noted for the Casa Maria feeding program. Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie, MI.