Nancy Ruth

Nancy Jean Ackley Ruth, 1952-2016Our loving mother, Nana, sister, aunt, and friend, Nancy Jean Ackley Ruth, was called home to the Lord and our savior Jesus Christ on October 23, 2016.
Born in Khartoum, Sudan on February 17, 1952 to Sadie Marie and Ernest Foster “Pete” Ackley, Nancy immediately brought joy and laughter to the Ackley home. The second of five children, she was the encourager, entertainer, organizer and center of the party. Her kind, giving spirit was evident very early on when she went away to boarding school at the age of six. Even in her own sadness and confusion, she continually encouraged and loved others going through the same tribulation. This pattern continued throughout her life. In many of the tributes received since her passing, people tell of the many ways she has been a blessing to them with a smile, a kind word, a hug or the gift of her time. One of her favorite past times was playing the piano and she used that gift as a way of encouraging others as well. After completing high school at Hillcrest in Jos Nigeria, Nancy moved to the U.S. to attend college at Oklahoma State University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree. Nancy married William Ruth in May 1972, and they moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where they welcomed son Michael William in 1975. They soon moved to Greenville, Texas and Nancy made many lifelong friends there.Nancy brought daughters Jenny Marie and Christy Lynn into this world in 1979 and 1980, respectively. She subsequently earned her Master’s degree at East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas while raising her children full-time and playing piano at Salem Kinser Methodist Church on Sundays. Life’s song took Nancy and her children to San Diego, California in the late 1980’s, and she spent several joyful years there, making time for beach trips and the zoo with the kids while working full-time in Human Resources. Nancy and her children returned to Texas in 1989, beginning a new chapter in their lives that would see them all form deep and significant bonds with Grandma Sadie and Granddad Pete Ackley. Nancy’s parents were so dear to her that she and her kids lived on the same street (and sometimes in the same house) as Pete and Sadie until her kids were grown.Following the death of her beloved mother, Sadie, Nancy undertook with joy the role of caretaker for her Daddy while also continuing to work full-time outside the house. She steadfastly cared for Pete up through the moment of his passing. No amount of hardship was ever too much for Nancy to bear for those she loved.
After the passing of her father on her 59th birthday, February 17, 2011, Nancy continued working full-time in human resources and also giving her all as Super Nana and Mom to her children and grandchildren. Additionally, she actively participated in the lives of her many nieces and nephews as their “Beautiful Wonderful Aunt Nancy.”
During this time, as with the rest of her life, Nancy encouraged and touched the lives of so many co-workers,
employees, friends, friends-of-friends, fellow missionary kids, and family members. Nancy passionately pursued cross-cultural endeavors, particularly where she could communicate with others personally or educate them professionally, by utilizing her unique African background along with her many years in the American corporate world. She spread her joy, optimism, and passion for connection everywhere she went, and she felt genuinely invested in the lives of those she met including strangers. Whether professionally consulting with major oil companies sending employees to the Middle East and Africa, or personally counseling parents of missionary kids, Nancy poured her heart and soul into teaching others the value of cross-cultural experiences while understanding the hardships involved therein.
Above and beyond her work supporting and encouraging strangers, colleagues and friends, Nancy was the best
Mom and Nana that God ever put on earth.
Nancy is preceded in death by and joined in heaven with her parents Pete and Sadie Ackley, her stillborn infant
brother George Henry Ackley, and her stillborn infant grandson Ernest Foster Fountain. She is survived and deeply
mourned by her three children and their families: Michael and his children Nolan, Reagan, Gracie and Payton;
Jenny, her husband Nick Shoffner, and their children Dalton and Macy; Christy, her husband Chris Fountain, and
their daughter Julie. Nancy is also survived and mourned by her four siblings and their families: brother Phil Ackley,
his wife Marie and Phil’s children Michelle Ackley, Scott Ackley, and Rachel Fetner, her husband Derek and their
daughter Savannah; brother Dick Ackley, his wife Meg, their son Jeffrey and his wife Valery Ackley, and their
daughter Kristen Bowen, her husband Ryan and their daughter Piper; brother Steve Ackley, his wife Dolores, their
daughters Elizabeth and Rebecca, and their sons Matt and Ben; and sister Karen Kern, her son Tyler and his wife
Sara, her son Travis, and her daughter Traci.