Ruth Isabel (Canon) Beal, 88, died February 4, 2001, at Independence Regional Health Center, Independence, MO. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, February 8, at Charter Funerals/Earp & Sons Chapel, 5000 Blue Ridge Cutoff, KCMO; burial in Floral Hills Cemetery. Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Mrs. Beal was born Ruth Isabel Canon August 11, 1912, in Macks Creek, MO. She later moved to Kansas City, MO, and married James O. Beal in 1929. They were blessed with two daughters and several grandchildren with whom they shared much joy and love. Ruth worked at Donnelly Garment Company and Allen Window Shade Company, both in Kansas City, MO. She was baptized and became a member of Greendale Baptist Church, KCMO, where she served the Lord for nearly 50 years as a Sunday School teacher. She was well known for her Bible flannel-graph lessons, which she also presented at area nursing homes. Ruth, who was also known as Granny Boo, or Dee Dee by her grandchildren, also made hundreds of beautiful quilts, which she would give as gifts at births or weddings. Ruth was a happy soul, who loved to sing Christian hymns and spirituals. She loved and served Christ faithfully, and shared that love with everyone she met, and she often shared her home with those in need. She took care of several grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews throughout the years, and will always be remembered for her unconditional love. She also cared for and was preceded in death by her husband, her father, Leo Pearl Canon, her mother, Nancy Leona (Riddle) Canon, and a brother, Carl Canon. Survivors are her daughters, Gloria Hight, Independence, MO, Joan Pence, KCMO; son-in-law, William Pence, KCMO; grandchildren, Deborah McNabb, Roseville, MI, Douglas Hight, Troy, MI, Linda McCoy, Lexington, MO, and Joseph Pence, Lee's Summit, MO; eight great-grandchildren, Acela Moreira, Sara and Will Bell, Annie McCoy, Lauren, Erinn, Jordan, and Robert Pence; three great-greatgrandchildren, Marina, Madison, and Samuel Moreira; brother, William Canon, Harrisonville, MO; sisters, Elva McCarthy, Kingsville, MO, Glada King, Oak Grove, MO; numerous nieces and nephews. Mrs. Beal moved to Independence in 1995 and attended Sycamore Hills Baptist Church. She was a resident of Jefferson Health Care in Lee's Summit, MO, for the last year of her life. The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Independence Regional Health Center and the staff of Jefferson Health Care for their loving care of their mother and grandmother during her battle with Alzheimer's and pneumonia.

Kansas City Star, The (MO) - February 6, 2001