Ruth (Summitt) Geer, the daughter of Chester A. Summitt and Kati O. (Darden) Summitt, was born on July 1, 1924 in Cardwell, Missouri. She died on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at the age of 94 years, 4 months, and 19 days.

She and Thomas Carter Geer were united in marriage on September 11, 1946 and they were privileged to spend over 54 years together, and to this union 4 children were born.

Ruth was a life-long member of the church of Christ and attended Harding University where she met Carter. She taught elementary school for several years at Crowley's Ridge Academy in Paragould, Arkansas, and later served for several years as Administrative Secretary at Crowley's Ridge College in Paragould. She and Carter served as missionaries in Tanzania and Kenya for the 18 years prior to his death. She then moved to Searcy, Arkansas for a few years and later moved in with Ruthie (her daughter) and Ray Deck in Mascoutah, Illinois until she entered the health care facility there in 2014. In July of this year she moved to the health care facility in Ash Grove where she was until her death.

Ruth was always a hard worker. Every evening after dinner, she would make her way to the sewing machine where she sewed for several hours each night, making most of her daughters' clothes. She moved 15-16 times during her married life and was always successful in making any house a home. She will probably be most remembered for her sense of humor. She seemed to find something funny in any situation. Even in the last few months, she was renowned for her smile as people passed by in the health care facility. She loved the church and truly enjoyed her time as a missionary in Africa.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Carter, on April 1, 2001; her brothers, Herbert, Sherrill, and Moody Summitt; and her sister Glendola Harrison.

Ruth is survived by her four children: Sandra, and husband Bill Halfacre, of Olive Branch, Mississippi; Janet, and husband Fielden Allison, of Monduli, Tanzania; Tom Geer, and wife Mary Ann, of Ash Grove, Missouri; and Ruth Ann, and husband Ray Deck, of Sarone, Italy; twelve grandchildren, twenty-four great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Monday, December 3, 2018 from noon-until service time, at Church of Christ at Antioch, Cardwell, MO. Funeral services will begin at 1:00PM, at the church, with burial to follow at Cardwell Cemetery, Cardwell, MO.