Ruth Laverne (Purdy) McDaniel

Ruth Laverne (Purdy) McDaniel, 79, of El Dorado Springs, Mo., the only child of Jesse Leonard and Gladys Eleanor (Fry) Purdy was born Oct. 14, 1932, in Otterville, Mo., and passed from this life Saturday, May 19, 2012, at Community Springs Healthcare in El Dorado Springs, Mo.

Ruth graduated from high school in Pilot Grove, Mo. In 1950, she was united in marriage to Lowell Schlotzhauer and to their union three children were born -- two daughters and one son.

In 1971, the family moved to Kansas City, Mo., area then later relocated to the Schell City area where they had purchased a farm. Later in her life, Ruth was married for a short time to Chester McDaniel. Her work background included employment as a grocery cashier, school bus driver, and she was also an agent for the Missouri Department of Conservation. In her spare time, Ruth enjoyed fishing and oil painting, but she especially enjoyed raising horses. She was baptized in 1965.

Survivors include her two daughters and their families, Donna and Rick Waterhouse of El Dorado Springs, Mo., and their family, Blake of El Dorado Springs, Mo., Chauntae Waterhouse and Marabeth of West Plains, Mo., Arlinda Johnson, Jeremiah and Hannah, of El Dorado Springs, Mo.; Diane Schlotzhauer and Bill Armstrong of El Dorado Springs, Mo., and their family, Annette and Jason Sheriff of El Dorado Springs, Mo., Johnathan and Sarah Taffner, and Emily and Adrian of Fort Lee, Va., Danielle and Phil Row of Golden City, Mo., and Virgil Taffner and Catie Schmidt of El Dorado Springs, Mo.; and a special cousin, Dorothy Allen of Blackwater, Mo. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; twin great-grandsons, Riley and Dreygan, who passed away in 2009; and her beloved son, Randal, who passed away in 1981.

Funeral services for Ruth Laverne (Purdy) McDaniel were held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 22, at the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home in Schell City, Mo., with the Rev. Doug Reynolds officiating. Pallbearers were Bill Armstrong, Rick Waterhouse, Jason Sheriff, Virgil Taffner, and Phil Row. Interment was in the Lefler Cemetery in Harwood, Mo. Memorials are suggested to Vernon County Cancer Relief.

Arrangements for Mrs. McDaniel were entrusted to the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home in Schell City, Mo.