Ruth Ann Bourbon

With family by her side, Ruth Ann Bourbon, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, sister, relative, and friend to many passed away on February 8, 2025. She was 80 years of age. For the last 40 or so years, she resided in the Springfield, MO area. 

Ruth was born on July 19, 1944, to Howard “Red” Bourbon and Gertrude Mary (Coleman) Bourbon in Cadet, MO. She grew up surrounded by a large family of 14 siblings.

Ruth was well-known for being a friendly and cheerful person. She experienced multiple tragedies in her life but was able to maintain a positive outlook. No doubt she was able to do that by relying on her God, Jehovah. She was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on March 10, 1974. From that moment forward she was dedicated to making sure that she and her family tried their best to please Jehovah. Raising 11 children was not an easy job and there were challenges but her relationship with Jehovah is what always brought her back to a place of stability. The hope of the resurrection, which we will discuss later, was especially dear to her heart. 

Ruth loved life. She loved to listen to music and dance. The family have many fond memories of her dancing barefoot in the kitchen. Having a large family meant she was always cooking. A touching memory is that, after hours of cooking, she wouldn’t sit down and eat herself. Her enjoyment came from watching her children enjoy what she had made for them. She was an excellent cook. Her children remember the happiness and anticipation they felt coming home from school to see covered bowls of dough resting on the counter. They knew that soon they would be enjoying melt-in-your-mouth yeast rolls and cinnamon rolls. 

Ruth also enjoyed baseball games. Her love for baseball stemmed from her first husband, Raymond, who was an excellent player. She spent many hours watching him play and, along with their children, they rooted for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Her second husband, Norman, being a machinist and tool and die maker, was a good provider. Norman and Ruth enjoyed taking long drives in the country together. Many Sunday afternoons were spent with his siblings and hers getting together for hours-long pinochle games while the kids played wiffle ball and hide-and-seek in the yard.

She had a few hobbies in life one of which was hunting for morrell mushrooms. She loved it so much that when she was no longer able to go herself, her daughter Ruthie would go out to the woods and then Facetime Ruth so they could hunt together.

Ruth is preceded in death by three husbands. Raymond Sansoucie, Norman Elsey, and Frank Ratliff. 

Ruth is survived by all eleven of her children. Daughter, Tammy Suzanne (Randy) Brawley, daughter Debra Lynn Goodrich, son Joseph Raymond “Guy” Sansoucie, son Howard Alan (Rachel) Sansoucie, daughter Ruth “Ruthie” Ann (John) Edwards, daughter Mary Evon Thorburn, son Norman Ray Elsey, daughter Lori Michelle “Shelly” Freeman, daughter Christa Dawn (Stan) Lillard, son Amon Douglas (Ginger) Elsey, and daughter Kianna Jill Lawrence. Ruth is also survived by 38 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren.

As was mentioned, Ruth herself was one of 14 children. Preceding her in death are four sisters and four brothers: Jean Eckhoff, Martha AuBuchon, Carol Elsey, Connie Courtway, Ronald Bourbon, Donald Bourbon, Frank Bourbon, and Jeffery Howard Bourbon. She is survived by 5 siblings: Kenneth Bourbon, Jim Bourbon, Nan AuBuchon, Donna Emily, and Vernon Bourbon.