Ruth Louise (Hawman) Hartley

Ruth Louise Hartley, 91, of Columbia, died peacefully on Thursday, June 8, 2023. 

Ruth was born October 20, 1931, in King City, Missouri, the daughter of the late, Earl and Erma (Price) Hawman. On February 10, 1950, Ruth married Melvin Hartley, who preceded her in death in 2004.  Ruth and Melvin owned and operated family grocery stores in Kansas for many years while raising their family in Valley Falls.  They moved to Columbia in 1987 where Ruth worked for the Columbia Public School system in food services.  Ruth was a member of Blue Ridge Christian Church and also volunteered at Boone Hospital in the cardiac ICU for more than a decade where she crocheted thousands of baby hats donated to new Boone babies.  

Ruth is survived by her sons; Daniel (Cathy) of Holton, Kansas, Donald (Rita) of Columbia, Ronald (Lorie) of Kansas City, Randall (Barbara) of Buffalo, Wyoming, and Robert of Hallsville; as well as her brother, Larry Hawman (Sandra) of Falcon, Colorado and sister, Katherine Harwood of Maysville, Missouri. Ruth is also survived by nine of her grandchildren; Dayna, Carrie, Melanie, Lynn, Jeff, Derek, Spencer, Lee, and Taylor as well as six great-grandchildren; Brayden, Colden, Rogen, Jaxon, Penelope, and Alexandra. 

Ruth was preceded in death by a brother, Tom Hawman, a sister, Ilene Maddock, and a granddaughter, Hannah Hartley.  

Ruth’s visitation is scheduled for Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at 10:00 AM with a memorial service to follow at 11:00 AM, both at Bach-Yager Funeral Chapel with Rev. Tim Maddock officiating. Following the service, inurnment alongside her husband, Melvin, will take place at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Jacksonville, Missouri.  

Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association or American Diabetes Association, C/O Bach-Yager Funeral Chapel, 1610 N. Garth Ave., Columbia, MO 65202. 

Condolences may be shared at www.bachyager.com. 

Bach-Yager Funeral Chapel of Columbia is honored to serve the family.

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