1925-2024
Ruth Irene (Smith) Spaniol Spivey, 99, died November 21, 2024, just a few months shy of her 100th birthday, at Legend at Council Road, Oklahoma City, OK. She was born March 9, 1925, in South Hutchinson, to Henry E. and Minnie C. (Luginbill) Smith.
Ruth graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1943. She enjoyed traveling, camping, fishing, working in her immaculate yard, and tending to her flowers. In addition, Ruth was an amazing baker and loved all animals, but had a soft spot for cats. Originally from Hutchinson, she moved to Oklahoma City, to be near her family. Ruth was a member of South Hutchinson United Methodist Church.
Ruth married James Walter “Jimmy” Spaniol May 1946. He died in 1962. On October 15, 1970, she married Leland Earl “Lee” Spivey, at South Hutchinson United Methodist Church. He died June 20, 2017, after they shared 46 years of marriage.
Ruth is survived by: sons, Rick Spaniol (life partner, Kim Byrd) of Yukon, OK and Dennis Spaniol (life partner, Barbara Marco) of Verdi, CA; daughter-in-law, Mona Spivey of Oklahoma City, OK; twin-sister, Ruby Jacques of South Hutchinson; grandchildren, Dennis Spaniol II (Kayla), Jimmy Spaniol (Jennifer), Erin Gatlin (Brad), Taylor McGee (Brett), Lillian Werner (Brad), Michael Spivey, Chief Warrant Officer 3, U.S. Army, Ret. (Lauren), and Mitchell Spivey, Senior Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy, (Stacey); and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
She was preceded in death by: her parents; husbands, Jimmy Spaniol and Lee Spivey; son, Michael Spivey; daughter, Lee Ann Casey and son-in-law, Charles Casey; and siblings, Virgil Smith, Joye Brinkmeyer, Oma Decker, Emadae Wright, June Burns, and Mary Burns.
Graveside service will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at Memorial Park Cemetery, 5905 West 4th Avenue, Hutchinson, with the Reverend Mike Rose officiating. Friends may call from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday at Elliott Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to South Hutchinson United Methodist Church, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.