Lucy Ruth (Reynolds) McCollam

Lucy Ruth (Reynolds) McCollam, age 96, resident of Medicalodge, Fort Scott, formerly of Kincaid, Kansas, died Sunday, Aug. 20, 2006 at Mercy Health Center.

She was born on Oct. 24, 1909 on a farm south of Kincaid in Anderson County, to parents George and Eda May (Porter) Reynolds. At the age of four, Ruth started school at Ozark, south of Kincaid. Her first teacher was her aunt, Charlotte Porter. She later graduated from the Kincaid Rural High School in 1926. As a freshman, she played the piano for the Saturday night silent movies for which she received a silver dollar.

She married L.M. "Jack" McCollam on Aug. 26, 1926, in Iola, Kansas. They had been married 59 years when he preceded her in death in 1986.

Ruth was an active member of the Kincaid United Methodist Church where she served as pianist, organist and Sunday school teacher for many years. Throughout her lifetime she taught music to literally hundreds of students. She was an avid reader, a lover of art, music and history. Some of her fondest memories were of her travels to Europe.

Ruth was a member of the Cofachique Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Kansas Federation of Music Clubs, Iola Music Club and the Twentieth Century Club of Kincaid.

Survivors include five children, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon McCollam, Independence, Rosemary and George Gillaspie, Rural Kincaid, CSM (Ret.) Jack and Dolores Butler, Waynesville, Mo., and James A. McCollam and Kathleen McCollam, both of Kincaid, 24 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and a sister Doris Atkins, Oceanside, Calif.

In addition to her husband, Jack, she was preceded in death by grandson, Steve Gillaspie; great-grandson, Mark Bartlett; two brothers; and two sisters.

Visitation will be held from 7-8 p.m., Monday, Aug. 21 at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola. Graveside service will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 22 at Kincaid Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Alzheimer's Association and may be left in the care of Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, 16 N. Buckeye, Iola, KS 66749.