Ruth Ann Roy

Ruth Ann Roy, 91, of Erie, Colo., formerly of Stockton and WaKeeney, Kansas, passed away on Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Erie, Colorado, at the home of her daughter, Joyce. 

She was born on February 6, 1934, to Alfred “Jack” and Mary Rosena (Hunter) Jackson in Phillipsburg, Kansas. She married her high school sweetheart, Kenneth Roy, on April 29, 1953, in Stockton at St. Thomas Roman Catholic Church. They were blessed with two daughters, Janice, who died a day after her birth, and Joyce.

Ruth grew up on a farm west of Stockton and graduated from Webster High School in 1952. She loved the farm life and often spoke about riding her horse to gather the cattle for feeding, which she enjoyed. After marrying Ken, they started their life together on the Schneider Ranch, just west of Stockton. They enjoyed many years together there before Ken began his career in law enforcement. It was at this time that they moved to WaKeeney to start a new life. 

Ruth was a wonderful homemaker, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who devotedly assisted Ken in his many years of serving the public as a police officer, mayor, and EMT. Ruth enjoyed fishing, boating, cooking, baking, gardening, and keeping her lawn “weed free”.  

In her leisure time, she very much enjoyed traveling with Ken around the states, visiting family, and especially going to see Joyce and her family, which often led to many mountain road trips. She enjoyed picnics very much. Well, she just enjoyed life very much and always had a smile on her face; even in her later years with dementia, she could make people laugh and smile.  

Ruth leaves behind a legacy of love, patience, and perseverance. She would often say, “Never give up,” and she did not even until the end.    

Ruth is survived by her daughter, Joyce (Richard) Lawson of Erie, Colo.; brothers, Jim (Pattie) Jackson of Stockton and Ron (Janis) Jackson of Oakhill, Kansas; three grandchildren, Nicole Lawson, Maggie (Eric) Maslak, and Brianna (Keenan) Fitzpatrick; and ten great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband Kenneth Roy; infant daughter Janice Roy; and brothers, Marvin and Jerry Jackson.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Stockton. Burial will follow at the St. Thomas Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, 6-8 p.m., with a Vigil and Rosary service at 7 p.m. at the funeral home in Stockon.

Memorials are suggested to St. Thomas Catholic Church or Christ the King Catholic Church and may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st, Stockton, KS 67669.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.plumeroverlease.com