Elizabeth Ruser

Elizabeth West Ruser, daughter of the late Henry C. and Florence M. Briggs West, was born in Humphreys County, Tennessee on March 5, 1920, and passed away at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on May 31, 2010, at the age of 90 years, 2 months and 26 days. She had lived in Poplar Bluff and St. Louis before moving to Puxico, Missouri in 1950. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Puxico, Missouri. She attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and worked as the first woman draftsman at McDonnell-Douglas in St. Louis getting the job because she had five brothers in the armed services. She had served as librarian at the Puxico Library for many years. She was a member of the Thursday Culture Club, Puhicah Club, the VFW Auxiliary and was a docent at the Margaret Harwell Art Museum in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. She enjoyed painting, art work and doing house plans. She also donated many drawings for area organizations for their fundraising activities. On October 22, 1949 she was married to Willis Douglas "Bill" Ruser in , Missouri. He preceded her in death on November 1, 1985. Surviving are one daughter, Maria Anne Sherfield of Dexter, Missouri; two sons, Willis D. Ruser, II of Florissant, Missouri, Robert Ruser of Puxico, Missouri; six grandchildren; four great grandchildren; two sisters, Wythia Hefner and Marjorie Rushin both of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; two brothers, John S. West, Sr. and Marion West both of Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Other relatives and friends survive. Visitation will be Wednesday, June 2, 2010, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, Missouri. Services will be held Thursday, June 3, 2010, at 11:00 AM in the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Puxico with the Rev. Dennis Doublin of Puxico and the Rev. Roy Sherfield of Dexter, Missouri officiating. Interment will be in the Puxico Cemetery in Puxico, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Puxico in charge of arrangements.