1916
Erma
2001
Erma Ruth Bean
April 21, 1916 — May 1, 2001
ERMA RUTH BEAN
Ruth Bean of Maryland Heights formerly of Caledonia, Missouri, was born on April 21, 1916, in Leadwood, Missouri, a daughter of Claude and Lula Mae (Imboden) McFarland. Ruth departed this life at the masonic home in Maryland Heights on May 1, 2001, having reached the age of eighty-five years and ten days.
Ruth was united in marriage to William Norman Bean on March 21, 1935, in St. Louis, Missouri, and to this union two daughters were born.
Ruth is survived by two daughters, Patsy Ruth Daniels of St. Ann, Missouri, Betty Lou Gifford and husband John of Hollister, Missouri, seven grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, two brothers, Walter McFarland and wife Betty of Columbia, Missouri, Gerald McFarland and wife Mary Ann of Chesterfield, Missouri, and by many other relatives and friends. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Claude and Lula Mae McFarland, her husband, William Norman Bean, four brothers, Frank, George, Warren and James McFarland, and by one sister, Kathryn Bell. Ruth was the kind of person whose home was always open to everyone. Years ago as her brothers one by one left the farm, they would head for St. Louis to work. The mode was to graduate from high school, head for St. Louis, get a job at White Castle, and live with Ruth and Norman. She would wash and iron and make lunches, whatever was needed to make them at home. Ruth was known as "Granny Mer" and "Aunt Mer". She hated her first name Erma so when Norman wanted to tease her, he would call her that. Once when Mike Bell, a nephew, was little, he heard the name Erma. Being very young, he couldn't say it so he called her Mer. The family is still arguing on the correct spelling "Mer" or "Mur". Mike says that since he started it, the correct spelling is "Mur". Ruth never walked -- she ran. Her daughters always accused her of trying to lose them on purpose. She was also the kind of person who could wear all white, clean a coal bin and still be spotless. She loved gardening and canned enough food to share with the family. It was said that she was the only person anyone knew who could make an artificial plant grow. She was an excellent cook. You could drop by any time and she would cook and concoct a great meal out of nothing. When she and Norman retired to Caledonia, they delivered Meals on Wheels and took the "old" people to St. Louis when they needed medical attention. Ruth was always up for a new adventure. One time when she was on her way to visit her sister at the Nursing Home, she accidentally ran her car into a ditch. Just then, a young man on a motorcycle happened along and offered her a ride. Never one to be timid, she hopped on the motorcycle, threw her arms around the young man to hold on, and off they went to the Nursing Home. She never did get her black leather jacket and boots, but Norman did give her a Harley-Davidson t-shirt and scarf.
Ruth and Norman were active in the Caledonia Methodist Church, the Tyro Lodge and Order of the Eastern Star. She was appointed Grand Organist of Missouri in 1971-1972 but couldn't read a note of music. That didn't hurt the sound though. There was always music in the house. She played the piano and Norman played the organ and banjo. They also played for square dances around the area. She made beautiful quilts and always donated one every year to the annual church sale. She also saw to it that each of her grandchildren received a quilt when they got married. Ruth was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and aunt. She was a "lady" in every sense of the word. She was rich in family and friends who loved her and she will be sorely missed.
Visitation was held Friday, May 4, 2001, from 5:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. at Moore Funeral Home in Potosi and Saturday, May 5, 2001, from 11:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. at the Caledonia Methodist Church. A Masonic Service was held Friday evening at 7:00 P.M. at the Moore Chapel.
Funeral services were conducted Saturday, May 5, 2001, at 2:30 P.M. at the Caledonia Methodist Church with Reverend Kevin Cawley officiating. Burial was in Caledonia Methodist Cemetery under the direction of Moore Funeral Home, Potosi.
Serving as pallbearers were, Gary McFarland, Dale McFarland, Denny Bell, Mike Skrivan and Justin Weber.
Ruth Bean of Maryland Heights formerly of Caledonia, Missouri, was born on April 21, 1916, in Leadwood, Missouri, a daughter of Claude and Lula Mae (Imboden) McFarland. Ruth departed this life at the masonic home in Maryland Heights on May 1, 2001, having reached the age of eighty-five years and ten days.
Ruth was united in marriage to William Norman Bean on March 21, 1935, in St. Louis, Missouri, and to this union two daughters were born.
Ruth is survived by two daughters, Patsy Ruth Daniels of St. Ann, Missouri, Betty Lou Gifford and husband John of Hollister, Missouri, seven grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, two brothers, Walter McFarland and wife Betty of Columbia, Missouri, Gerald McFarland and wife Mary Ann of Chesterfield, Missouri, and by many other relatives and friends. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Claude and Lula Mae McFarland, her husband, William Norman Bean, four brothers, Frank, George, Warren and James McFarland, and by one sister, Kathryn Bell. Ruth was the kind of person whose home was always open to everyone. Years ago as her brothers one by one left the farm, they would head for St. Louis to work. The mode was to graduate from high school, head for St. Louis, get a job at White Castle, and live with Ruth and Norman. She would wash and iron and make lunches, whatever was needed to make them at home. Ruth was known as "Granny Mer" and "Aunt Mer". She hated her first name Erma so when Norman wanted to tease her, he would call her that. Once when Mike Bell, a nephew, was little, he heard the name Erma. Being very young, he couldn't say it so he called her Mer. The family is still arguing on the correct spelling "Mer" or "Mur". Mike says that since he started it, the correct spelling is "Mur". Ruth never walked -- she ran. Her daughters always accused her of trying to lose them on purpose. She was also the kind of person who could wear all white, clean a coal bin and still be spotless. She loved gardening and canned enough food to share with the family. It was said that she was the only person anyone knew who could make an artificial plant grow. She was an excellent cook. You could drop by any time and she would cook and concoct a great meal out of nothing. When she and Norman retired to Caledonia, they delivered Meals on Wheels and took the "old" people to St. Louis when they needed medical attention. Ruth was always up for a new adventure. One time when she was on her way to visit her sister at the Nursing Home, she accidentally ran her car into a ditch. Just then, a young man on a motorcycle happened along and offered her a ride. Never one to be timid, she hopped on the motorcycle, threw her arms around the young man to hold on, and off they went to the Nursing Home. She never did get her black leather jacket and boots, but Norman did give her a Harley-Davidson t-shirt and scarf.
Ruth and Norman were active in the Caledonia Methodist Church, the Tyro Lodge and Order of the Eastern Star. She was appointed Grand Organist of Missouri in 1971-1972 but couldn't read a note of music. That didn't hurt the sound though. There was always music in the house. She played the piano and Norman played the organ and banjo. They also played for square dances around the area. She made beautiful quilts and always donated one every year to the annual church sale. She also saw to it that each of her grandchildren received a quilt when they got married. Ruth was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and aunt. She was a "lady" in every sense of the word. She was rich in family and friends who loved her and she will be sorely missed.
Visitation was held Friday, May 4, 2001, from 5:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. at Moore Funeral Home in Potosi and Saturday, May 5, 2001, from 11:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. at the Caledonia Methodist Church. A Masonic Service was held Friday evening at 7:00 P.M. at the Moore Chapel.
Funeral services were conducted Saturday, May 5, 2001, at 2:30 P.M. at the Caledonia Methodist Church with Reverend Kevin Cawley officiating. Burial was in Caledonia Methodist Cemetery under the direction of Moore Funeral Home, Potosi.
Serving as pallbearers were, Gary McFarland, Dale McFarland, Denny Bell, Mike Skrivan and Justin Weber.
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