Leona Ruth Howard

Ruth Howard, 94, passed away Friday, April 16, 2010, in Azle. 

Funeral: 11 a.m. Tuesday at White's Funeral Home, 105 Denver Trail, Azle. 

Interment: 1 p.m. Wednesday in Memorial Park Cemetery, 51st St. and Memorial Drive, Tulsa, Okla. 

Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

 Leona Ruth Howard was born July 30, 1915, in Canton, W.Va., daughter of the late Charles Theodore and Almeda Jane Spencer Hays. Ruth served as the first mayor of Pelican Bay and was instrumental in forming the city charter. She and Dan Howard were married 39 years prior to his passing in 2008. 

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Dan Howard; daughter, Martha Sue Coker, in 2001; parents; and brother, Stanley Hays. 

Survivors: Stepdaughter, Marie Anderson and husband, James, of Tyler; grandchildren, Pam Knudsen of Houston, Kay Coker and husband, Glenn, Bobby Baldwin, all of Bakersfield, Calif., Debbie Burton of Fresno, Calif., Vickie Davis and husband, Jimmy, of McAllen; eight great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; four stepchildren; 14 step-grandchildren; nine step-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Joy McGuffy of Fayetteville, Ark.; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of loving family and friends. 

White's Funeral Home Azle, 817-444-3211