Obituary of Ruby N. Dennis

Coffeyville - Ruby Dennis, 89, formerly of Coffeyville, died Friday, December 6, 2011 in Springfield, Missouri. She was born to Samuel L. and Gladys L. Dikeman in Longton, Kansas on August 6, 1922. After completing High School in Longton, she took classes in Independence to enter the Diploma Nursing Program at Mercy Hospital in Independence. Upon completion of her three years of nurses training and passing her State Boards for Nursing Licensure, Ruby began working for Dr. Yeubanks in Independence. On July 25, 1948, she married Sidney Dennis and the couple soon settled in Coffeyville where she worked at Coffeyville Memorial Hospital for 3 years until the birth of their first child. In 1959, Ruby returned to the work force, beginning a four decade career as the Administrator of the Montgomery County Health Department. She retired from the position in December of 1999. During her career with the Health Department, she served on numerous community, county and state advisory boards and committees, all in an effort to advance the cause of community health. She wrote and was awarded numerous federal and state grants for funding of various programs and services for the advancement of health department. She is preceded in death by her parents Sam and Gladys and her husband Sidney. She is survived by a son Steve of Las Vegas, Nevada, a son and daughter-in-law David and Kim Dennis of Springfield, Missouri, a daughter-in-law Mary Fogel of Wills Point, Texas, and nine grand-children: Chance and Abby Van Noppen of Raleigh, North Carolina, Carlye Dennis of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Brian Dennis of Long Beach, California, John and Melissa Dennis of Plano, Texas, Robin Pursley of Plano, Texas, and Brandon and Sarah Pursley of Coffeyville, Kansas. The Celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, January 21 at 10:30 a.m., at St. Paul's Episcopal Church with Rev. Antoinette Tackett officiating. Inurnment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may sign the register book on Friday, January 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home The family will receive friends on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Memorial Fund, 613 Elm Street, Coffeyville, Kansas 67337.