Marian (Ruth) Schuetz Bell, 95, of Sabetha, Kansas, passed away at the Apostolic Christian Nursing Home on August 16, 2016.

She was born near Powhattan, Kansas on March 18, 1921, the daughter of Arthur and Carrie Villard McCray and raised on the family farm.  She considered herself a tomboy and worked in the fields with her dad instead of working in the house.  Ruth graduated from Powhattan High School.

She was united in married to Vernon (Dutch) Schuetz in 1939.  They lived and raised their family in Hiawatha, Kansas and were members of St. Ann’s Catholic Church.  Ruth was a member of St. Ann’s Alter Society and loved to sing in the choir.  She was also a member of Sweet Adeline’s for many years.  Ruth also was past President of the Brown County Historical Society from 1995 until 2005.  She took great pleasure in being associated with the Ag Museum and Windmill Lane and also the Memorial Auditorium Museum.  

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 53 years, Vernon A. Schuetz in 1992.  She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Arthur and Carrie McCray, her siblings:  Warren McCray, Blanche Finger, Grace Dailey, Edwin McCray, Rosalie Humphrey; also by a grandson, Geoffrey Reynolds of Portland, Oregon in 2006.

In 1999 Ruth became re-acquainted with a high school friend, Lloyd Bell, and they were married later that year.  They settled in the Apostolic Christian Home apartments in Sabetha, Kansas and enjoyed several years of travel and socializing with family and friends.  Lloyd Bell passed away in 2008.

Ruth survivors include her children:  Gary (Janice) Schuetz of Topeka, Janet (Harold) Engelhaupt of Leawood, KS, Brenda Reynolds (Dennis Rhodes) of Portland, Oregon, Fred Schuetz of Lawrence, Thomas (Danielle) Schuetz of Topeka, Dennis Schuetz of Lawrence, Michael Schuetz (Rhea Supplee) of Fairbanks, Alaska; 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday, August 22, at St. Ann Catholic Church in Hiawatha, with Father Dan Gardner as celebrant.  Interment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Hiawatha.

Friends may call at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha after 12 noon Sunday, where a parish rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. followed by family visiting with friends until 8.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Brown County Historical Society, Alzheimer’s Association, or St. Jude’s Children Hospital, sent in care of the funeral home, 124 S 7th St., Hiawatha 66434.

A special remembrance or message may be sent to the family at www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com