Ruth I. Sullivan, age 93, died Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at her home in Clayton, New Mexico.

Graveside services were held at 10:00 A. M. on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at the Clayton Memorial Cemetery in Clayton, New Mexico with Mike Phipps, pastor of the Clayton Gospel Church. Services were under the direction of Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton.

Ruth was the last of a pioneer homesteading family that came to Union County in 1908. She was born at the family homestead 10 miles west of Clayton on June 8, 1918 to William Hess McCook and Susie Amanda (Beckner) McCook. All of her brothers and sisters have preceded her in death. She attended school in the Otto Community. The McCook and Beckner families that Ruth was a part of were a prominent part of Clayton's history. She was raised on a 320 acre homestead her Father proved up about 10 miles West of Clayton. She like to say she had lived through the dust bowl, a world war, chiggers and bed bugs, a plague of rabbits and lived to tell the story. Ruth married Howard Sullivan on June 26, 1935 in Raton, New Mexico. They moved to Lubbock, Texas then to California in 1942. Ruth worked for Dr. Fredrick Thomas and family as a housekeeper and caretaker of his children in California. They returned to Clayton in 1976 to be near their son, Thomas, and his family. In Clayton, Ruth was a loving caregiver to so many. Ruth received the award for Distinguished Pioneer of Union County, recognizing her years of caregiving. In addition to her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Howard on February 19, 2006, by 1 son, Thomas Howard Sullivan on June 22, 1984, and by 21 brothers and sisters.

SURVIVORS:

1 DAUGHER-IN-LAW: Bonnie Longwill and her husband Bob of San Patricio, New Mexico.

1 GRANDSON: Travis Sullivan and his wife Salana of Clayton, New Mexico

1 GRANDAUGHTER: Nicole I. Sullivan of Guymon, Ok.

2 STEP GRANDSONS: Robert Longwill and his wife, Sara (Maggie) of Dalhart, Texas and Dusty Longwill and his wife, Maggie of Raton, New Mexico.

1 STEP GRANDDAUGHTER: Kelsey Kohler and her husband, Kendal of Clovis, New Mexico

2 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN: Thomas Sullivan and Camry Sullivan

6 STEP GREAT GRANDCHILDREN: Mary Longwill, Peyton Longwill, Serenity Longwill, Braxton Longwill, Ross Kohler and Derek Kohler

1 SISTER-IN-LAW: Violet Sullivan Thurman and her husband C.C. of Phelan, California.

and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the charity or scholarship of your choice.