Ruth Bradshaw

Ruth (Ryan) Bradshaw daughter of the late Arch and Edith (Heath) Ryan, was born on October 10, 1924 in Douglas County, Missouri and departed this life at her home, with her loving daughters and her three loving caregivers by her side, on Saturday, February 28, 2015. She was 90 years, 4 months, and 18 days of age.
Ruth attended grade school at Brushy Knob and St. James in Douglas County. She graduated from Norwood High School and went on to college at Southwest Missouri State College and Drury University. Ruth then taught from 1942-1949 at Hickory Flat, a one room school house on YY Highway outside of Norwood.
Ruth was united in marriage to Leo Melvin Bradshaw on November 15, 1947 in Columbus, Kansas. In 1949, Ruth and Leo moved to Kansas City, Kansas where she became a homemaker. There, they welcomed their first child, Teresa, and 3 years later they welcomed their second child, Leah.
In the summer of 1962, Ruth and Leo moved to Norwood, Missouri. Mr. Alva Raney, the principal at Norwood, asked Ruth if she would come and teach at the school. She then started her career of teaching again. This is what she dearly loved doing. After her time teaching at Norwood, she taught elementary at Manes, Hartville, and Skyline Schools. She retired from Hartville School in May of 1985, but continued substituting until she was 79 years old.
Ruth and Leo moved back to Norwood, after Leos retirement from Wright County Sheriff, in the summer of 1993. A few years later they purchased the Elmer Tharp home on Hill Street, where they had lived for about twelve years or more.
Ruth enjoyed her time with family and friends, going to church, her clubs, and eating fish at the caf on Friday nights. Ruth had a firm faith in our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus. She loved teaching and preaching about her view points of life.
One of her greatest pleasures was going to her grandchildrens ballgames. Even when she couldnt see, she could still enjoy visiting with others there.
Besides her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her loving husband, Leo Bradshaw; and three sisters: Anise Filer, Esther Moody, and Lois Ryan.
She is survived by her two daughters: Teresa Chadwell and her husband, Joe, of Norwood, Missouri, and Leah Vaughan of Mansfield, Missouri; one brother: Curtis Ryan of Olatha, Kansas; seven grandchildren: Shawn Chadwell, Dustin Chadwell, Stacey McDaris, Shane Chadwell, Ryan Vaughan, Mark Vaughan, and Clint Vaughan; nineteen great-grandchildren; and a host of other family and friends.
We truly are thankful for the three angels that came into our lives who helped with our mother for 2 years and especially the last two weeks of her life: Shirley Cottongim, Gale Robertson, and Bonnie Rodgers.


Visitation: Monday, March 2, 2015 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM in the Craig-Hurtt Chapel, Mtn. Grove.

Funeral Service: Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at 2:00 PM at Union Grove/Caudle Church, Norwood.

Burial: Thomas Cemetery, Norwood.

Memorial Contributions: Thomas Cemetery c/o the funeral home.