NANCY RUTHERFORD

Nancy Rutherford, 98, of Raymore, MO passed March 9, 2016 at Foxwood Springs Care Center.
Nancy was born March 2, 1918 to Robert Morris and Lula Helm (Perrin) Hitt.

She always spoke adoringly about her parents and Koshkonong, Missouri where she was born and spent her childhood years. She graduated from high school in Rich Hill, Missouri where she lived with family friends, her Senior year because her family wanted her to get a stronger music education. She graduated with an education degree from Southwest Missouri State. She taught in Houston, Missouri where she met Eugene Earnest Rutherford and they were married March 3, 1940. They lived in St. Louis, Missouri and then Hot Springs, Arkansas. Then in 1957 they moved to Warrensburg, Missouri where Nancy began teaching full-time again. Also Nancy obtained her Master's Degree from Central Missouri State. In 1985, after retirement, Nancy and Gene moved to Foxwood Springs in Raymore Missouri.

Nancy's was a strong woman and personal inner strength led to a full and faith filled life. Nancy was compassionate, giving and generous. She held many leadership roles in her churches, her organization and her communities, even up to 90 years of age. Her passions were her family, her church, music, education and traveling. She tried always to look on the positives in life, had an infectious smile and she loved to laugh…which all who knew her are really going to miss.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Eugene Rutherford; sister, Katherine Hitt and brother, Johnny Hitt. She is survived by her two sons, Robert Rutherford and wife Jane (Cunningham) of Lee's Summit, MO, and Roger Rutherford and wife Rita (Blackburn) of Osage Beach, MO; two grandsons, Wes of Adel, IA, and Adam and wife Amy of Lee's Summit, MO; two great-grandchildren, Berkeley and Ayla.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2016, visitation 1PM & service 2PM at Raymore Christian Church, 500 Peace Drive. In lieu of flowers please consider contributions in Nancy's honor to Raymore Christian Church, P.O. Box 680, Raymore, Missouri 64083, or First Christian Church Warrensburg, 101 East Gay Street, Warrensburg, MO, 64093, or Warrensburg R-6 Schools Foundation, P.O. Box 638, Warrensburg, MO, 64093.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, MO (816) 322-5278