Ruth Dehaas

A Celebration of Life service for Ruth Evelyn (McKinney) DeHaas, age 93 years, of Ames, will

be 10 am Monday, January 16, 2023 at Ames Christian Church with Pastor Ian Grimm

officiating. Burial will follow at Ames Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of

Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home and Crematory.

Ruth was born February 22, 1929, to Della Lila (Fyffe) and Adrian Lee McKinney at the family

home ½ mile north of Ames, Oklahoma. She received her education at Ames public school,

graduating high school in 1947, then continued to Phillips University in Enid, studying tailoring

and business and participating in women’s athletics, lettering in basketball her freshman year.

On her birthday in 1948 her sweetheart, Vyron Lee DeHaas (who also shared her birthday of

February 22) proposed, they became engaged and then were married June 5, 1948. They were

blessed with 44 years together before his death in 1992. Ruth was also preceded in death by

her parents, son Larry Lee DeHaas, son-in-law Charles Cooper and daughter Sheryl Sue

Cooper.

Ruth worked for the selective service as a draft board secretary and as a homemaker and farm

wife. She was very involved in the community, volunteering whenever needed. Her children and

grandchildren could always count on her support and encouragement for whatever sports,

hobbies, or interests they participated in. She began attending church when she was a junior in

high school and she then invited her mother to join her. They were both baptized and became

members of the Ames Christian Church in 1946. Ruth was always eager to share her love for

Jesus and served in many roles of the church including song leader, choir director, Sunday

School teacher, leader of Christian Women’s Fellowship group, librarian, church historian, youth

leader, deacon, board member, funeral dinner coordinator, and unofficial visitor greeter and

record keeper of attendees. Ruth was promoted to her heavenly role on Sunday, January 8,

2023.

Ruth is survived by her daughter Teresa Lyn (Terri) Meyer and husband Will of Ames, brother

Robert McKinney and wife Holly of Clemmons, NC; grandchildren; Toni White and husband

Joseph of Edmond, Ray Cooper of Shreveport, LA, Elizabeth Kerl of OKC, Jennifer Short and

husband Eric of Weatherford, Barry DeHaas and wife Christina of Edmond, Sandra DeHaas of

Calumet, Nathan Meyer of Ames, Wyatt Meyer of Enid, Logan Meyer of Ames, 21

great-grandchildren and 17 great-great grandchildren.

Memorial contributions in Ruth’s name may be made to the Ames Christian Church or the Ames Volunteer Fire Department with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home serving as custodian of the funds.

Condolences may be made, memories shared and services viewed online at www.ladusauevans.com.